Effect of availability of gig work on reliance on government programs

Last registered on June 03, 2026
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Effect of availability of gig work on reliance on government programs
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0018318
Initial registration date
May 27, 2026

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
June 03, 2026, 8:49 AM EDT

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

Locations

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Primary Investigator

Name
Riley Wilson
Affiliation
Brigham Young University
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Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Riley Wilson
PI Affiliation
BYU
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Additional Trial Information

Status
In development
Start date
2026-05-28
End date
2027-03-31
Keywords
Labor, Welfare
Additional Keywords
unemployment insurance, disability insurance, food stamps, gig work, uber, lyft, grub hub
JEL code(s)
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
This study examines how access to gig work opportunities influences individuals’ intended reliance on government assistance programs during periods of income loss. Participants are asked to consider a hypothetical scenario in which their household loses all earned income and to indicate how much they would rely on a range of coping strategies, including programs such as unemployment insurance (UI), disability insurance (DI), and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), as well as alternative options like gig work.

The study compares responses between individuals who are presented with gig work as a potential option and those who are not, in order to assess whether the availability of gig work changes reported reliance on government programs. It also explores how these responses vary based on individuals’ perceptions of stigma, administrative burden (such as application hassle), and the perceived non-monetary benefits of working. In addition, the study examines differences in responses between individuals with and without disabilities.

Finally, the study incorporates open-ended responses to better understand the reasons behind individuals’ choices. These responses will be analyzed using natural language processing and sentiment analysis techniques to identify common themes and motivations for substituting between gig work and government assistance.

The goal of this research is to better understand how emerging forms of flexible work may shape the role of public safety net programs and the decision-making processes individuals use when facing economic hardship.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Wilson, Riley and Riley Wilson. 2026. "Effect of availability of gig work on reliance on government programs." AEA RCT Registry. June 03. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.18318-1.0
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
Participants are presented with a hypothetical scenario in which their household loses all earned income and are asked to indicate how much they would rely on a range of options to make ends meet. These options include government assistance programs (such as unemployment insurance, disability insurance, and SNAP) as well as other strategies.

The intervention consists of varying whether gig work (e.g., rideshare or delivery work) is presented as one of the available options. This allows us to examine how the availability of gig work affects individuals’ reported reliance on other options.
Intervention Start Date
2026-05-28
Intervention End Date
2026-08-28

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
Reliance on SNAP, DI, and UI government programs.
Primary Outcomes (explanation)
Reliance on these benefits will be measured on a 0–100 scale, where respondents indicate how much they would rely on each option during a period without income.

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Stigma, hassle costs, and the non-wage value of work.
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)
The study also analyzes open-ended responses using natural language processing methods to identify themes and sentiment related to participants’ decision-making.

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
Participants are presented with a hypothetical scenario in which their household loses all earned income and are asked to indicate how much they would rely on a range of options to make ends meet. These options include government assistance programs (such as unemployment insurance, disability insurance, and SNAP) as well as other strategies.

The intervention consists of varying whether gig work (e.g., rideshare or delivery work) is presented as one of the available options. This allows us to examine how the availability of gig work affects individuals’ reported reliance on other options.
Experimental Design Details
Not available
Randomization Method
Randomization will be done by a computer.
Randomization Unit
We will randomize on the individual level.
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
2000 individuals.
Sample size: planned number of observations
2000 individuals
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
1000 individuals control, 1000 individuals control
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
With a sample size of 2000 individuals, and power of 80, the minimum detectable effect size for our primary outcomes is four percentage points, or a two percentage point change in their reported likely they would be to rely on a particular social program. Relative to the mean, this represents an 8 percent effect. This is assuming an average of 50 and a standard deviation of 25.
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
Kean University Institutional Review Board
IRB Approval Date
2026-05-26
IRB Approval Number
N/A
Analysis Plan

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