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The Effects of Income on the Economic Wellbeing of Families with Low Incomes: Evidence from the 2021 Expanded Child Tax Credit

Author

Listed:
  • Natasha Pilkauskas
  • Katherine Michelmore
  • Nicole Kovski
  • H. Luke Shaefer

Abstract

We examine the effects of an unconditional cash transfer on the economic wellbeing (material hardship, ability to meet needs, money on hand, use of friends and family for assistance, and employment) of families and children with very low incomes. We use a parameterized difference-in-differences approach to study the impact of the 2021 temporary expansion of the Child Tax Credit (CTC), which provided monthly, unconditional cash payments to families with children from July to December 2021. The 2021 monthly CTC reduced the number of hardships families experienced, and in particular their food insecurity. We find some evidence that the credit reduced medical hardships, reduced reliance on friends and family for food, and improved respondents’ ability to pay utility bills. We also find no effects on any labor supply measures. Analyses that examine differences by racial/ethnic groups show that the effects are somewhat stronger for Black families than for Hispanic and White families, but the differences are not large.

Suggested Citation

  • Natasha Pilkauskas & Katherine Michelmore & Nicole Kovski & H. Luke Shaefer, 2022. "The Effects of Income on the Economic Wellbeing of Families with Low Incomes: Evidence from the 2021 Expanded Child Tax Credit," NBER Working Papers 30533, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:30533
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    Cited by:

    1. Gromadzki, Jan, 2024. "Universal Child Benefit and Child Poverty: The Role of Fertility Adjustments," IZA Discussion Papers 17456, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Zhong, Mingli & Braga, Breno & McKernan, Signe-Mary & Hayward, Mark & Millward, Elizabeth & Trepel, Christopher, 2024. "Impacts of COVID-19-era economic policies on consumer debt in the United Kingdom," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    3. Sauval, Maria & Duncan, Greg J. & Gennetian, Lisa A. & Magnuson, Katherine A. & Fox, Nathan A. & Noble, Kimberly G. & Yoshikawa, Hirokazu, 2024. "Unconditional cash transfers and maternal employment: Evidence from the Baby’s First Years study," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 236(C).
    4. Gromadzki, Jan, 2024. "Labor supply effects of a universal cash transfer," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 239(C).
    5. Mari, Gabriele, 2024. "Pandemic Income Support Programs and Adolescent Mental Health in the UK, Ireland and Australia," SocArXiv pzr4k, Center for Open Science.
    6. Cha, Eunho & Lee, Jiwan & Tao, Stacie, 2023. "Impact of the expanded child tax credit and its expiration on adult psychological well-being," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 332(C).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H20 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - General
    • I3 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty
    • I30 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • J20 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - General

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