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

Last registered on July 29, 2024
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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
July 29, 2024, 12:26 PM EDT

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

Locations

Country
United States of America
Region

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. 2024. "The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states." AEA RCT Registry. July 29. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.6750-5.1
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 (Hidden)
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
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

Analysis Plan Documents

“The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states” – PAP for Outcomes on Childbearing and Children

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SHA1: cf8704d62a97d8ebd349b2bc7722ff333311709e

Uploaded At: November 17, 2020

“The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states” – PAP for Outcomes Related to Executive Control, Concentration, and Time and Risk Preferences

MD5: 9bc5701835b5207cf66bc102243110aa

SHA1: 206e67df1c0855b31498b1eecdad62af0fa9aa53

Uploaded At: November 17, 2020

“The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states – PAP for Employment outcomes

MD5: c17488a580828d837a96ae9367567801

SHA1: 326eaf41c5880e8e0c0a24bc3efa99791cf9f3ee

Uploaded At: November 17, 2020

“The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states” – PAP for Health outcomes

MD5: 5f458c292890d0579dda773716a1cbcf

SHA1: 4d4b23b7de0976ef94c24cecb89053609c06117e

Uploaded At: November 17, 2020

“The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states” – PAP for Intrahousehold Outcomes

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SHA1: 06ada58d58d759c14efb0465ba663f8456f31fdb

Uploaded At: November 17, 2020

“The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states” – PAP for effects on political and social attitudes

MD5: 78ef7e784836b698cdc3b164feeedda9

SHA1: ae414b28e74085e1cefe0851a923cb5c798fd102

Uploaded At: November 17, 2020

“The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states” – PAP for Time use outcomes

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SHA1: eb68a59f763ed8babc38d7442d8ca168336d8b63

Uploaded At: November 17, 2020

“The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states” – PAP for Mobility and Housing Outcomes

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“The causal effects of basic income: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states” – PAP for Psychosocial Outcomes

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SHA1: 7d583c190280270f1fed750dee2289b3363a693c

Uploaded At: November 17, 2020

“The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states – PAP for Income, expenditures and financial health outcomes

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SHA1: e37d5334d10334c87860f4d05b4257208a00f1ef

Uploaded At: November 17, 2020

“The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states” – PAP for Material Hardship Outcomes

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SHA1: 0c041041dcf1cbf5d02334b54138d31a406d66a2

Uploaded At: November 17, 2020

The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states – PAP for Material Hardship Outcomes (pre additional administrative measures)

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SHA1: a054f1a91e2a16d093f777727b72f3f3c856070b

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The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states – PAP for Outcomes on Childbearing and Children (pre additional administrative measures)

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SHA1: 272e546ae31144875fdbb74e8418848596e244ae

Uploaded At: November 13, 2023

The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states – PAP for Outcomes on Childbearing and Children (pre endline)

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SHA1: 6c943be9271d665a83d36c59dab431d200376a92

Uploaded At: August 14, 2023

The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states – PAP for Employment Outcomes (pre endline)

MD5: 35a02817499ee2f8437b4e74c09a8c1c

SHA1: 9a66793368d75e774fdfa60002c854b84170c3c5

Uploaded At: August 14, 2023

The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states – PAP for Criminal Justice Outcomes (pre endline)

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Uploaded At: August 14, 2023

The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states – PAP for Mobility and Housing Outcomes (pre endline)

MD5: 5b0526f45f5142d5fac6c470a484ced4

SHA1: 9790a529b2473037ae67ce208f66bfe7b5c99b95

Uploaded At: August 14, 2023

The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states – PAP for Time Use Outcomes (pre endline)

MD5: d5a851075237c1c94e6132069338f0f8

SHA1: 2799cab74575831576b15a037d43b813989cbaf1

Uploaded At: August 14, 2023

The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states – PAP for Psychosocial Outcomes (pre endline)

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SHA1: 99539f5ca4a703685672cfe1fc2da35b094c821b

Uploaded At: August 14, 2023

The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states – PAP for Health Outcomes (pre endline)

MD5: fa5858076f0e305f98f3097b3f526b7d

SHA1: 31245afb943c34786b644c9e38b01749e98f58fb

Uploaded At: August 14, 2023

The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states – PAP for Financial Health Outcomes (pre endline)

MD5: 71b7727e0796b7c619ef7e12aad8332d

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The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states – PAP for Intrahousehold Outcomes (pre endline)

MD5: b1605428c9f9e7186762bffdf24bfeaf

SHA1: 8c13dd318167aec9bf59b055b35847f08f201897

Uploaded At: August 14, 2023

The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states – PAP for Material Hardship Outcomes (pre endline)

MD5: 279f24f7d3bf351bb6cce95ea6657cbe

SHA1: 2c06cc7d579c5265b5a154d2d5d70d5be44f8e64

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The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states – PAP for Political Outcomes (pre endline)

MD5: 31b0b5510356949fb708d114f78acad2

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The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states – PAP for Outcomes Related to Executive Control, Concentration, and Time and Risk Preferences (pre endline)

MD5: 75a94415d1bf5add92174a013b16b5e7

SHA1: b8e02463e063dc5936ed7dba96cd78d599d88a70

Uploaded At: August 14, 2023

The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states – PAP for effects on political and social attitudes (pre additional administrative measures)

MD5: 1caf8ad22f0bfb10ff4a74f0b511ea87

SHA1: 68004d40bda7f60d2a718c84fa5e249c25f7db0f

Uploaded At: November 13, 2023

The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states – PAP for Outcomes Related to Executive Control, Concentration, and Time and Risk Preferences (pre additional administrative measures)

MD5: 0280191b58715948b57f00c6436d0abf

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The causal effects of basic income: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states – PAP for Psychosocial Outcomes (pre midline)

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The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states – PAP for Mobility and Housing Outcomes (pre midline)

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The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states – PAP for Income, expenditures and financial health outcomes (pre midline)

MD5: b0b538ab8b60aee3bd14199a5964aa4f

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The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states – PAP for Employment outcomes (pre midline)

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The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states – PAP for Time use outcomes (pre midline)

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The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states – PAP for effects on political and social attitudes (pre midline)

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The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states – PAP for Material Hardship Outcomes (pre midline)

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The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states – PAP for Intrahousehold Outcomes (pre midline)

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The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states – PAP for Health outcomes (pre midline)

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The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states – PAP for Outcomes Related to Executive Control, Concentration, and Time and Risk Preferences (pre midline)

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The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states – PAP for Outcomes on Childbearing and Children (pre midline)

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The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states – PAP for Time Use Outcomes (pre additional administrative measures)

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The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states – PAP for Health outcomes (pre additional administrative measures)

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The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states – PAP for Intrahousehold Outcomes (pre additional administrative measures)

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The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states – PAP for Financial Health Outcomes (pre additional administrative measures)

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The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states – PAP for Employment Outcomes (pre additional administrative measures)

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The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states – PAP for Criminal Justice Outcomes (pre additional administrative measures)

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The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states – PAP for Psychosocial Outcomes (pre additional administrative measures)

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The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states – PAP for Mobility and Housing Outcomes (pre additional administrative measures)

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Post-Trial

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Intervention

Is the intervention completed?
No
Data Collection Complete
Data Publication

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