Can Nudges Increase Take-up of the EITC?: Evidence from Multiple Field Experiments

Elizabeth Linos, Allen Prohofsky, Aparna Ramesh, Jesse Rothstein and Matt Unrath

No 28086, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) distributes more than $60 billion to over 20 million low-income families annually. Nevertheless, an estimated one-fifth of eligible households do not claim it. We ran six pre-registered, large-scale field experiments to test whether “nudges” could increase EITC take-up (N=1million). Despite varying the content, design, messenger, and mode of our messages, we find no evidence that they affected households’ likelihood of filing a tax return or claiming the credit. We conclude that even the most behaviorally informed low-touch outreach efforts cannot overcome the barriers faced by low-income households who do not file returns.

JEL-codes: D91 H24 H26 I38 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020-11
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-exp, nep-iue, nep-pbe and nep-pub
Note: LS PE
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

Published as Elizabeth Linos & Allen Prohofsky & Aparna Ramesh & Jesse Rothstein & Matthew Unrath, 2022. "Can Nudges Increase Take-Up of the EITC? Evidence from Multiple Field Experiments," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, vol 14(4), pages 432-452.

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Journal Article: Can Nudges Increase Take-Up of the EITC? Evidence from Multiple Field Experiments (2022)
Working Paper: Can Nudges Increase Take-up of the EITC?: Evidence from Multiple Field Experiments (2020)
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