The Earned Income Tax Credit, Health, and Happines

摘要: This paper contributes to the small but growing literature evaluating health effects of Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). In particular, we use data from National Survey Families and Households study impact 1990 federal EITC expansion on several outcomes related mental subjective well-being. The identification strategy relies a difference-in-differences framework estimate intent-to-treat for post-reform period. Our results suggest that reform generated sizeable benefits low-skilled mothers. Such women experienced lower depression caseness, an increase in self-reported happiness, improved self-efficacy relative their childless counterparts. Consistent with previous work, find married mothers captured most benefits, unmarried mothers’ changing very little following reform.