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Health effects of introducing an unconditional child benefit in Poland: Evidence from a difference in differences analysis

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  • Brzezinski, Michal
  • Yaniuk, Artur

Abstract

The association between income and health is well-documented, yet the impact of unconditional child benefits on health in high-income countries remains unclear. This study evaluates the health effects of a generous unconditional child transfer introduced in Poland in 2016. We employed a difference-in-differences methodology using 2010–2019 data from the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC). Our analysis compared health outcomes between parents eligible for the child benefit and a control group of childless individuals and parents of ineligible children. The introduction of the child benefit was associated with a 2.7 percentage point increase in reporting very good self-perceived health among beneficiaries. The improvement was more significant among the lower-income half, and there was a notable decrease in unmet medical and dental needs by 1.4 percentage points. The policy significantly improved health outcomes, suggesting the potential of unconditional cash transfers to enhance health in high-income countries, particularly for economically disadvantaged groups.

Suggested Citation

  • Brzezinski, Michal & Yaniuk, Artur, 2024. "Health effects of introducing an unconditional child benefit in Poland: Evidence from a difference in differences analysis," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:hepoli:v:149:y:2024:i:c:s0168851024001799
    DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105169
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Child benefits; Income; Cash transfers; Health; Unmet medical needs;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs

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