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

Last registered on August 11, 2023
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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 11, 2023, 11:33 PM EDT

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

Locations

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Primary Investigator

Name
Elizabeth Rhodes
Affiliation
Open Research Lab
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Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Alexander Bartik
PI Affiliation
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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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
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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. August 11. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.6750-3.0
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

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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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

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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

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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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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

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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 Outcomes on Childbearing and Children (pre endline)

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Uploaded At: August 11, 2023

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

MD5: 5d4a18b59ee6a3b6137096b3d2ef0eab

SHA1: f370ace962f0d946ce207e178e128e402571eb56

Uploaded At: August 11, 2023

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

MD5: 06e21dceeee383e2e89078b47b6f161f

SHA1: 3dabc53e77faff22a8166c3bbe316ad4e3722bbe

Uploaded At: August 11, 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: ec835fac795937a166d4c9bacae6ac85

SHA1: 8058085695bbb74adf8dc366db673fe3db5518b9

Uploaded At: August 11, 2023

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

MD5: ed4223be1c3728fa27eee67ede46c679

SHA1: 864b8ff736654f9e854945d82bbcc2aa6daffd4c

Uploaded At: August 11, 2023

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

MD5: 6d2558f11e10eb4eba3b4a6baf4dff3a

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Uploaded At: August 11, 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: 192bff6026f6657b6fdae53074407d43

SHA1: ee3ae0b825968358d35997fe7dc3bd8e33e8a56f

Uploaded At: August 11, 2023

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

MD5: 58a101831493483532908996be891715

SHA1: 554c3a68841d7427de5b051a88b100139be0fbd1

Uploaded At: August 11, 2023

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

MD5: c2a5b29129e5e2d996488256348356f9

SHA1: e0b063dda86beeb1e1d765ff615d618c1410ba84

Uploaded At: August 11, 2023

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

MD5: b029724f8f87354bd91f8e6711d2fdfc

SHA1: 891c61afa1322288fda8b8398e2f7f5a27f28092

Uploaded At: August 11, 2023

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

MD5: dd9ec1e8dc23b694050675109b048a83

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Uploaded At: August 11, 2023

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

MD5: ac67a325d87d9da557f999003b9517dc

SHA1: 708ad2599c7932d03f662f754d6cb0b246d08e4e

Uploaded At: August 11, 2023

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

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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

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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)

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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)

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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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