My Google Scholar page link
Publication
The Effect of State Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Eligibility on Food Insufficiency during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Published in Review of Economics of the Household
Abstract: This paper uses data from the Household Pulse Survey to examine whether and for how long the eligibility to receive state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) benefits reduced self-reported household food insufficiency among lower-income households with dependent children during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of models estimated using difference-in-differences (DD) and difference-in-difference-in-differences (DDD) methods suggest that state EITC eligibility, on average, reduced food insufficiency by about 3 percentage points between March 2021 and early October 2021. However, the results of models estimated using an event study method show that the effect was not visible in all the post-March bimonthly periods. Overall, this paper finds some evidence to suggest that state EITC eligibility reduced food insufficiency over a short period.
Working Papers
Cash Assistance Through the Tax System and Financial Hardship Experienced by Lower-Income Households During the COVID-19 Pandemic: How Long Did the Association Last?
(Paper)
Abstract: This study investigates how long higher cash assistance eligibility from the tax system was associated with the financial hardship experienced by lower-income households during the COVID-19 pandemic. I use data from the United States Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey, which has regularly gathered data on financial hardship since August 2020. I utilize four contexts created by across-time and across-group variations in cash assistance eligibility for lower-income households with and without children (higher- and lower-eligible groups, respectively). In general, findings of models estimated using a difference-in-differences event study approach suggest that higher cash assistance eligibility was linked to a reduction in financial hardship in some of the weeks after the beginning of the payments; however, the association faded away after a while before reappearing following the beginning of subsequent payments. Although this study cannot identify program-specific effects, results suggest that pandemic-era programs – such as Economic Impact Payments and Advance Child Tax Credit – played a role, along with existing lump-sum Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit programs, in reducing financial hardship over an extended period in 2021. These findings have implications for designing cash assistance programs and measurement of financial hardship experienced by economically disadvantaged households.
Economic Security of People with Disabilities During the Pandemic (with J. Michael Collins and Carly Urban)
(Paper)
Abstract: This paper investigates the degree to which people with disabilities experienced different economic outcomes after the COVID-19 pandemic relative to people without disabilities. Based on evidence across two surveys with different measures of disability, we find that like many low-and moderate-income families, people with disabilities show only small financial impacts initially as the pandemic began; this is likely due to a wide array of policy efforts. However, a third survey shows that as the pandemic progressed, people with disabilities faced more financial challenges relative to people without disabilities, especially paying for food and housing expenses after pandemic supports ended in 2021. The long-run financial well-being among people with disabilities may continue to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic for years to come. Our results suggest that programs and policies targeted to people with disabilities should closely monitor the economic well-being of program participants for signs of accumulated hardships and distress.
Research In Progress
(1) Affordable Care Act Medicaid Expansions and Self-Reported Indicators of Financial Health
(2) Self-Reported Mental Health and the Dobbs Decision: Variation by State Abortion Laws (with J. Michael Collins)
Publication
The Effect of State Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Eligibility on Food Insufficiency during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Published in Review of Economics of the Household
Abstract: This paper uses data from the Household Pulse Survey to examine whether and for how long the eligibility to receive state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) benefits reduced self-reported household food insufficiency among lower-income households with dependent children during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of models estimated using difference-in-differences (DD) and difference-in-difference-in-differences (DDD) methods suggest that state EITC eligibility, on average, reduced food insufficiency by about 3 percentage points between March 2021 and early October 2021. However, the results of models estimated using an event study method show that the effect was not visible in all the post-March bimonthly periods. Overall, this paper finds some evidence to suggest that state EITC eligibility reduced food insufficiency over a short period.
Working Papers
Cash Assistance Through the Tax System and Financial Hardship Experienced by Lower-Income Households During the COVID-19 Pandemic: How Long Did the Association Last?
(Paper)
Abstract: This study investigates how long higher cash assistance eligibility from the tax system was associated with the financial hardship experienced by lower-income households during the COVID-19 pandemic. I use data from the United States Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey, which has regularly gathered data on financial hardship since August 2020. I utilize four contexts created by across-time and across-group variations in cash assistance eligibility for lower-income households with and without children (higher- and lower-eligible groups, respectively). In general, findings of models estimated using a difference-in-differences event study approach suggest that higher cash assistance eligibility was linked to a reduction in financial hardship in some of the weeks after the beginning of the payments; however, the association faded away after a while before reappearing following the beginning of subsequent payments. Although this study cannot identify program-specific effects, results suggest that pandemic-era programs – such as Economic Impact Payments and Advance Child Tax Credit – played a role, along with existing lump-sum Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit programs, in reducing financial hardship over an extended period in 2021. These findings have implications for designing cash assistance programs and measurement of financial hardship experienced by economically disadvantaged households.
Economic Security of People with Disabilities During the Pandemic (with J. Michael Collins and Carly Urban)
(Paper)
Abstract: This paper investigates the degree to which people with disabilities experienced different economic outcomes after the COVID-19 pandemic relative to people without disabilities. Based on evidence across two surveys with different measures of disability, we find that like many low-and moderate-income families, people with disabilities show only small financial impacts initially as the pandemic began; this is likely due to a wide array of policy efforts. However, a third survey shows that as the pandemic progressed, people with disabilities faced more financial challenges relative to people without disabilities, especially paying for food and housing expenses after pandemic supports ended in 2021. The long-run financial well-being among people with disabilities may continue to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic for years to come. Our results suggest that programs and policies targeted to people with disabilities should closely monitor the economic well-being of program participants for signs of accumulated hardships and distress.
Research In Progress
(1) Affordable Care Act Medicaid Expansions and Self-Reported Indicators of Financial Health
(2) Self-Reported Mental Health and the Dobbs Decision: Variation by State Abortion Laws (with J. Michael Collins)