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

Last registered on August 31, 2022

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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

August 31, 2022, 12:32 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

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PI Name

Sarah Miller

PI Affiliation

University of Michigan Ross School of Business

Contact Investigator

PI Name

Eva Vivalt

PI Affiliation

University of Toronto

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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. 2022. "The causal effects of sustained unconditional cash transfers: Experimental evidence from two U.S. states." AEA RCT Registry. August 31. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.6750-2.0

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 (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

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