Effects of State-Level Earned Income Tax Credit Laws on Birth Outcomes by Race and Ethnicity

ObjectiveTo estimate the impact of state-level supplements of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) on mortality in the USA. The EITC supplements the wages of lower-income workers by providing larger returns when taxes are filed.SettingNationwide sample spanning 25 cohorts of people across every state in the USA.Participants793 000 respondents within the National Longitudinal Mortality Survey (NLMS) between 1986 and 2011, a representative sample of the USA.InterventionState-level supplementation to the EITC programme. Some, but not all, states added EITC supplementation to varying degrees beginning in 1986 (Wisconsin) and most recently in 2015 (California). Participants who were eligible in states with supplementary programmes were compared with those who were not eligible for supplementation. Comparisons were made both before and after implementation of the supplementary programme (a difference-in-difference, intent-to-treat analysis). This quasi-experimental approach further controls for age, gender, marital status, race or ethnicity, educational attainment, income and employment status.Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe primary outcome measure was survival at 10 years. Secondary outcome measures included survival at 5 years and survival to the end of the intervention period.ResultsWe find an association between state supplemental EITC and survival, with a HR of 0.973 (95% CI=0.951–0.996) for each US$100 of EITC increase (p<0.05).ConclusionState-level supplemental EITC may be an effective means of increasing survival in the USA.

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The Impact of the Earned Income Tax Credit on Poverty: Analyzing the Dimensions by Race and Immigration

The Review of Black Political Economy ◽

10.1007/s12114-008-9030-2 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 35 (4) ◽

pp. 117-127 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Olugbenga Ajilore

Keyword(s):

African Americans ◽

Income Tax ◽

State Level ◽

Probit Model ◽

Earned Income Tax Credit ◽

Tax Credit ◽

Earned Income ◽

Poverty Transitions ◽

Using Data ◽

The Impact

This paper analyzes the effectiveness of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) on poverty transitions, with an emphasis on native-born African–Americans and immigration. A probit model is estimated using data from the Current Population Survey (CPS), which evaluates the impact of EITC participation and immigration on transitions out of poverty. The EITC is found to be a useful tool in combating poverty and is effective for African–Americans, though only for women. More importantly, the results show that the implementation of state-level EITCs can mitigate the adverse effects of immigration for native-born African–Americans.

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Why All States Should Adopt a State-Level Earned Income Tax Credit: A Policy Argument

Policy Perspectives ◽

10.4079/pp.v20i0.11784 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 20 ◽

pp. 54 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Eric. J. Stokan

Keyword(s):

Income Tax ◽

State Level ◽

Earned Income Tax Credit ◽

Fiscal Year ◽

Extensive Literature ◽

Tax Credit ◽

Earned Income ◽

Current Program ◽

High Concentrations ◽

Policy Argument

This article argues that states that do not currently have a state-level Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) would benefit by adopting such a program. Relying on extensive literature, the article concludes that a state-level ETIC can effectively reduce poverty, especially among children; enhance employment by attracting new entrants into the labor market; reduce the regressive nature of the tax system; and bolster the economies of areas with high concentrations of poverty. This article estimates the costs for each state without a current program for fiscal year 2013. Overall, it argues that this program, which is widely supported by many interests, can benefit states greatly in simultaneously achieving several social policies with relative administrative ease.

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Poverty, Pregnancy, and Birth Outcomes: A Study of the Earned Income Tax Credit

Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology ◽

10.1111/ppe.12211 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 29 (5) ◽

pp. 444-452 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Rita Hamad ◽

David H. Rehkopf

Keyword(s):

Birth Outcomes ◽

Income Tax ◽

Earned Income Tax Credit ◽

Tax Credit ◽

Earned Income ◽

Pregnancy And Birth Outcomes ◽

Pregnancy And Birth

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The Earned Income Tax Credit and Intimate Partner Violence

Journal of Interpersonal Violence ◽

10.1177/0886260521997440 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 088626052199744

Author(s):

Amy T. Edmonds ◽

Caitlin A. Moe ◽

Avanti Adhia ◽

Stephen J. Mooney ◽

Frederick P. Rivara ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Income Tax ◽

State Level ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Earned Income Tax Credit ◽

Abusive Relationships ◽

Tax Credit ◽

Earned Income ◽

Individual Level

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious public health problem in the United States with adverse consequences for affected individuals and families. Recent reviews of the literature suggest that economic policies should be further investigated as part of comprehensive strategies to address IPV. The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is the nation’s largest anti-poverty program for working parents, and especially benefits low-income women with children, who experience an elevated risk of IPV. The EITC may prevent IPV by offering financial resources; such resources may help individuals experiencing IPV leave abusive relationships or address IPV risk factors, thereby preventing entry into abusive relationships. However, the association between EITC generosity and IPV has not been previously examined. We used state-level and individual-level datasets to examine the association between EITC generosity and IPV. Our state-level data source was the nationally representative National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS; N = ~ 95,000 households per year). For NCVS, we used a difference-in-difference approach to investigate the relationship between state EITC generosity and IPV rates. We also used individual-level longitudinal data from the Fragile Families and Child Well-being Study (n = 13,422 person-waves). Using this cohort of US families at higher risk for IPV, we evaluated associations between estimated EITC benefits based on the mother’s state of residence and number of children and self-reported IPV. In both state- and individual-level analyses, no significant association between state EITC benefits and IPV was found. Factors that may account for these null findings include program ineligibility for individuals who separate from abusive spouses. Future research efforts should more closely examine EITC policy implementation processes and the lived experience of participating in anti-poverty programs for people experiencing IPV.

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