scholarly journals Can antipoverty programmes save lives? Quasi-experimental evidence from the Earned Income Tax Credit in the USA

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. e037051
Author(s):  
Peter Muennig ◽  
Daniel Vail ◽  
Jahn K Hakes
Keyword(s):  
Outcome Measures ◽  
Income Tax ◽  
State Level ◽  
Earned Income Tax Credit ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Tax Credit ◽  
Earned Income ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The Impact

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.

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

2008 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 117-127 ◽  
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.

scholarly journals State Earned Income Tax Credit policies and intimate partner homicide in the USA, 1990–2016

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 562-565
Author(s):  
Caitlin A Moe ◽  
Avanti Adhia ◽  
Stephen J Mooney ◽  
Heather D Hill ◽  
Frederick P Rivara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Income Tax ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Earned Income Tax Credit ◽  
Cash Transfer ◽  
Adult Women ◽  
Tax Credit ◽  
Intimate Partner Homicide ◽  
Earned Income ◽  
The Usa

Economic insecurity is a risk factor for intimate partner homicide (IPH). The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is the largest cash transfer programme to low-income working families in the USA. We hypothesised that EITCs could provide financial means for potential IPH victims to exit abusive relationships and establish self-sufficiency. We conducted a national, quasiexperimental study of state EITCs and IPH rates in 1990–2016 using a difference-in-differences approach. The national rate of IPH decreased from 1.9 per 100 000 adult women in 1990 to 1.3 per 100 000 in 2016. We found no statistically significant association between state EITC generosity and IPH rates (coefficient indicating change in IPH rates per 100 000 adult female years for additional 10% in amount of state EITC, measured as the percentage of federal EITC: 0.02, 95% CI −0.03 to 0.08). Financial control associated with abuse and current EITC eligibility rules may prevent potential IPH victims from accessing the EITC.

scholarly journals The Impact of Family Income on Child Achievement: Evidence from the Earned Income Tax Credit

2012 ◽  
Vol 102 (5) ◽  
pp. 1927-1956 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gordon B Dahl ◽  
Lance Lochner
Keyword(s):  
Income Tax ◽  
Family Income ◽  
Causal Effect ◽  
Earned Income Tax Credit ◽  
Tax Credit ◽  
Earned Income ◽  
Short Run ◽  
Reading Test Scores ◽  
Run Test ◽  
The Impact

Using an instrumental variables strategy, we estimate the causal effect of income on children's math and reading achievement. Our identification derives from the large, nonlinear changes in the Earned Income Tax Credit. The largest of these changes increased family income by as much as 20 percent, or approximately $2,100, between 1993 and 1997. Our baseline estimates imply that a $1,000 increase in income raises combined math and reading test scores by 6 percent of a standard deviation in the short run. Test gains are larger for children from disadvantaged families and robust to a variety of alternative specifications. (JEL H24, H31, I21, I38, J13)

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