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

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

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. 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 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

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

MD5: 1ca6a11d593c7adbba549fc027427a19

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

MD5: 9cd16cfc2cc7ed316ce98c49910a79cc

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

MD5: 28d760332a758dbaa29eb2561085a0de

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

MD5: 0dcffaf88fe72ecd8a06b60a4f394e18

SHA1: 6c1e12ecbe5f8d61f3b13d0c44b81dfbb31550b9

Uploaded At: November 17, 2020

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

MD5: f3ec8dace98ab888c127170d59299715

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

MD5: b49e7ba8a7746b754f77638ce0397dcf

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

MD5: 470ea23e6665e11dfdd06dd538d0f80a

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)

MD5: f297273380c8409fa0289bdb58399c61

SHA1: a054f1a91e2a16d093f777727b72f3f3c856070b

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 additional administrative measures)

MD5: d748271dd06f3d5d81bc544e72b82e4c

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)

MD5: 6576fa1a47314bc552d6a7d26dbf8210

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)

MD5: 6b9ee192a4cd87d7725cfd5e9031e074

SHA1: 642877318143b1a944f6558985399452a1cccce1

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)

MD5: 01d092cc9d73c16f4b3794c0ccb3b6f9

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

SHA1: 4d8cc787c723c88797a4b5ca1fdf3b5ae2f2c02b

Uploaded At: August 14, 2023

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

Uploaded At: August 14, 2023

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

MD5: 31b0b5510356949fb708d114f78acad2

SHA1: eb2cdd668e30aa84478f576352d72b02b8356f5d

Uploaded At: August 14, 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 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

SHA1: 6c43a321c1fbb1fee465d824dc82596b1db650f5

Uploaded At: November 13, 2023

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

MD5: 0a70a25e6b30b0dfb72f96e606028605

SHA1: 774aeb8b375393f51126446d4488d8781b77d12b

Uploaded At: August 31, 2022

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

MD5: c22b50b980d3b1488d0744d564283ca1

SHA1: a805e135e9ab2a32b0949fcaae31d38d8cebfd03

Uploaded At: August 31, 2022

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

SHA1: 72d744a5202717669b55602f4d54604be0013898

Uploaded At: August 31, 2022

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

MD5: c8268c3b4bd55e496ec0b31e693419e6

SHA1: f5dcd0233c3d6c6c7045195ee7cf50c3db57d1a3

Uploaded At: August 31, 2022

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

MD5: 82c431d639b8612bb2b932cb80b859ca

SHA1: ecd817d29a71dbbfae7b14e1be8b058a8635f059

Uploaded At: August 31, 2022

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)

MD5: f4279b66aae9aa9cf5e63abeded3c69a

SHA1: 846a28bb946f05247c6a6f40cf790fa5b8738a24

Uploaded At: August 31, 2022

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

MD5: b91330df0b6606a0b3f3122fb41ee44f

SHA1: 99abebd07a6ebff955e52e5219514b0f45a5edae

Uploaded At: August 31, 2022

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

MD5: f6f258a74fa5a389ded1b2ad0c5d3824

SHA1: 6f93d9366edc038bbdcf65f34ab1110226ae8188

Uploaded At: August 31, 2022

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

MD5: 98c02c2eeba7cc143e9b6361fbf527e0

SHA1: 60e583669f69af89601fe6bb7c853069b2108112

Uploaded At: August 31, 2022

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)

MD5: 5f93ba5c0b849abb32aac778542f4be8

SHA1: a0f80d87618974f445c235cc4fbe6986664315f0

Uploaded At: August 31, 2022

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

MD5: 54728e1eab05bb39c68e573e37b55047

SHA1: 243b56d4d0d2639af9d77a8986d6ba60ab62c69d

Uploaded At: August 31, 2022

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

MD5: 0779fc94a60e1f74a20c00d2ebeba8af

SHA1: 3a0089db35569694fb2229b0a18407c6010a1094

Uploaded At: November 13, 2023

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

MD5: 18fc85322c1b914496140d9655fba3fb

SHA1: e6cbb2ad89b00871b1cb583492a45fc73e43ccf4

Uploaded At: November 13, 2023

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

MD5: c990228b1f6b84e70a9a320f06c61634

SHA1: 7b070dfdeb3a29b297cb4e62a3406cf1777c2d9c

Uploaded At: November 13, 2023

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

MD5: 0d68d2d4ee88a11f05d79b1f4d0085b4

SHA1: f101bd8eff244197a0ddf13febdc1dac54e55af2

Uploaded At: November 13, 2023

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

MD5: a5b14cff9890b0b868753a8ee8c3c2fc

SHA1: d61b86a4716fc8ca74c79e885a0ab7470625f74c

Uploaded At: November 13, 2023

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

MD5: bb0ed9d0e75294266854906d3939344f

SHA1: c98dfb56ce8814b76efc02f1ae686b6f5f177b61

Uploaded At: November 13, 2023

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

MD5: cf07b963b3b16d1281627aa0264fdf6e

SHA1: c51431a851fcf4a4600554841ef3678642df5487

Uploaded At: November 13, 2023

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)

MD5: 097878d7f95f3a34f999d0ef7cbd25d4

SHA1: f58b1f96f6cdada2d5d782df8fefdd572a9233a6

Uploaded At: November 13, 2023