The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states

Last registered on November 13, 2023
View Trial History

Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0006750
Initial registration date
November 17, 2020

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
November 18, 2020, 9:35 AM EST

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

Last updated
November 13, 2023, 3:56 PM EST

Last updated is the most recent time when changes to the trial's registration were published.

Locations

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

Request Information

Primary Investigator

Name
Elizabeth Rhodes
Affiliation
Open Research Lab
Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Alexander Bartik
PI Affiliation
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Contact Investigator
PI Name
David Broockman
PI Affiliation
University of California, Berkeley
Contact Investigator
PI Name
Sarah Miller
PI Affiliation
University of Michigan Ross School of Business
Contact Investigator
PI Name
Eva Vivalt
PI Affiliation
University of Toronto
Contact Investigator

Additional Trial Information

Status
On going
Start date
2019-10-01
End date
2025-10-31
Keywords
Behavior, Finance & Microfinance, Health, Labor, Other
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, 1,000 individuals will receive $1,000 per month for 3 years. A control group of 2,000 individuals who receive $50 per month 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
Bartik, Alexander et al. 2023. "The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states." AEA RCT Registry. November 13. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.6750-5.0
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
The intervention in this study is an exogenous increase in income in the form of unconditional cash transfers. The transfers ($50 monthly for the control group and $1,000 monthly for the treatment group) will be delivered by the implementing non-profit organizations via direct deposit to the participants’ bank accounts.
Intervention Start Date
2020-11-18
Intervention End Date
2023-10-31

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, but people who know each other are placed in the same cluster.
Was the treatment clustered?
Yes

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
For the purposes of randomization, we formed clusters of individuals based on information that a small number of participants knew each other. We placed individuals who reported knowing each other into the same cluster, such that they would always receive the same treatment assignment. There are 20 of these clusters (18 clusters of 2 individuals and 2 clusters of 3 individuals), as well as 2,958 individuals who are considered their own cluster.
Sample size: planned number of observations
3,000 individuals
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
1,000 individuals in treatment (including 7 clusters of 2 individuals and 1 cluster of 3 individuals)
2,000 individuals in control (including 11 clusters of 2 individuals and 1 cluster of 3 individuals)
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
Advarra
IRB Approval Date
2019-02-15
IRB Approval Number
Pro00032337
Analysis Plan

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

Request Information