The effects of earned income tax credits on intergenerational health mobility in the United States

Katie Jajtner and Yang Wang

Journal of Health Economics, 2025, vol. 103, issue C

Abstract: Intergenerational health mobility is an important marker of health opportunity and equity, yet empirical research in this field remains sparse, particularly concerning the effects of public policies. We present the first empirical evidence of the effects of the Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC), one of the largest and most effective anti-poverty programs in the US, on intergenerational health mobility. We use self-reported health status from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics and explore temporal, geographic, and family structure variations in childhood exposure to maximum EITC benefits. We find that the EITC generally improved intergenerational health mobility, especially upward health mobility.

Keywords: Intergenerational Health Mobility; Health inequality; Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC); Public Policy and Health; Health equity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jhecon:v:103:y:2025:i:c:s0167629625000839

DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2025.103048

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