The causal effects of unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from a large U.S. county

Last registered on January 03, 2023
View Trial History

Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
The causal effects of unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from a large U.S. county
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0010641
Initial registration date
December 14, 2022

Initial registration date is when the trial was registered.

It corresponds to when the registration was submitted to the Registry to be reviewed for publication.

First published
January 03, 2023, 4:22 PM EST

First published corresponds to when the trial was first made public on the Registry after being reviewed.

Locations

There is information in this trial unavailable to the public. Use the button below to request access.

Request Information

Primary Investigator

Name
Eva Vivalt
Affiliation
University of Toronto
Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Nour Abdul-Razzak
PI Affiliation
Inclusive Economy Lab at the University of Chicago
Contact Investigator
PI Name
Alexander Bartik
PI Affiliation
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Contact Investigator
PI Name
Sarah Miller
PI Affiliation
University of Michigan
Contact Investigator
PI Name
Elizabeth Rhodes
PI Affiliation
OpenResearch Lab
Contact Investigator

Additional Trial Information

Status
In development
Start date
2022-12-15
End date
2026-02-28
Keywords
Crime, Violence, & Conflict, Education, Health, Labor, Welfare
Additional Keywords
JEL code(s)
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
The regular provision of unconditional cash transfers to individuals is a tactic to fight poverty that has attracted significant interest from researchers and policymakers. Despite this interest, many fundamental questions about the effects of receiving sustained unconditional cash transfers remain. In this randomized controlled trial, 3,250 individuals will receive $500 per month for two years. A control group of approximately 8,940 individuals will serve as the comparison group. The study offers an opportunity to inform both the debate over unconditional cash assistance and other questions about the effects of income that typically elude causal identification.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Abdul-Razzak, Nour et al. 2023. "The causal effects of unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from a large U.S. county." AEA RCT Registry. January 03. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.10641-1.0
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
See pre-analysis plan.
Intervention Start Date
2022-12-15
Intervention End Date
2025-02-28

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
See pre-analysis plan.
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
See pre-analysis plan.
Experimental Design Details
Not available
Randomization Method
Randomization done in office by a computer.
Randomization Unit
Individual.
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
12,190 individuals.
Sample size: planned number of observations
12,190 individuals.
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
3,250 individuals receiving cash transfers, 1,625 of which will additionally be offered financial coaching services.
8,940 individuals in the control.
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
University of Chicago
IRB Approval Date
2022-10-04
IRB Approval Number
IRB22-1334
Analysis Plan

There is information in this trial unavailable to the public. Use the button below to request access.

Request Information