Universal Cash Transfer Impacts on Maternal and Infant Health

Mary Kopriva
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Mary Kopriva: Institute of Social and Economics Research, University of Alaska Anchorage

No 2023-02, Working Papers from University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Economics

Abstract: In this paper, I examine how the receipt of an unconditional cash transfer during pregnancy impacts maternal and infant health outcomes. Using linked birth certificate data, I apply a within-mother estimator to analyze how receipt of the Alaska permanent fund dividend (PFD), an annual cash transfer for all Alaska residents, affects the likelihood of being born preterm or low birth weight and the likelihood of experiencing complications at the time of labor and delivery. I find that receiving an additional $1,000 in PFD payment during the 12 months prior to birth decreases the likelihood of having a labor/delivery complication by approximately 12% and reduces the likelihood of being born very preterm by approximately 22%. The results are strongest for mothers with less than a high school education.

Keywords: cash transfers; maternal health; infant health; prenatal period (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I12 I38 J13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023-07
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hea
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