The long-term effects of childhood exposure to the earned income tax credit on health outcomes

Breno Braga, Fredric Blavin and Anuj Gangopadhyaya

Journal of Public Economics, 2020, vol. 190, issue C

Abstract: The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a central component of the U.S. safety net, benefiting about 25 million families. Using variation in the federal and state EITC, this paper evaluates the long-term impact of EITC exposure during childhood on the health of young adults. We find that an additional $100, or a 3% increase, in the average annual EITC exposure between birth and age 18 increases the likelihood of reporting very good or excellent health by 2.6% and decreases the likelihood of being obese by 4.1% between ages 22 and 27. The effects of EITC exposure are stronger for children raised in a single-parent household and for children with lower-educated parents.

Keywords: EITC; Health outcomes; Children (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (20)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:pubeco:v:190:y:2020:i:c:s0047272720301134

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2020.104249

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