Effects of State-Level Earned Income Tax Credit Laws in the U.S. On Maternal Health Behaviors and Infant Health Outcomes

25 Pages Posted: 21 Aug 2017 Last revised: 19 Apr 2023

See all articles by Sara Markowitz

Sara Markowitz

Emory University; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Kelli Komro

University of Florida - Institute for Child Health Policy

Melvin Livingston

University of North Texas

Otto Lenhart

University of Strathclyde - Strathclyde Business School

Alexander C Wagenaar

University of Florida, College of Medicine

Date Written: August 2017

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of state-level Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) laws in the U.S. on maternal health behaviors and infant health outcomes. Using multi-state, multi-year difference-in-differences analyses, we estimated effects of state EITC generosity on maternal health behaviors, birth weight and gestation weeks. We find little difference in maternal health behaviors associated with state-level EITC. In contrast, results for key infant health outcomes of birth weight and gestation weeks show small improvements in states with EITCs, with larger effects seen among states with more generous EITCs. Our results provide evidence for important health benefits of state-level EITC policies.

Suggested Citation

Markowitz, Sara and Komro, Kelli and Livingston, Melvin and Lenhart, Otto and Wagenaar, Alexander C, Effects of State-Level Earned Income Tax Credit Laws in the U.S. On Maternal Health Behaviors and Infant Health Outcomes (August 2017). NBER Working Paper No. w23714, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3023112

Sara Markowitz (Contact Author)

Emory University ( email )

Atlanta, GA 30322
United States

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

365 Fifth Avenue, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10016-4309
United States
(212) 817-7968 (Phone)

Kelli Komro

University of Florida - Institute for Child Health Policy ( email )

P.O. Box 100147
Gainesville, FL 32610-0147
United States

Melvin Livingston

University of North Texas

1155 Union Circle #305340
Denton, TX 76203
United States

Otto Lenhart

University of Strathclyde - Strathclyde Business School ( email )

100 Cathedral Street
Glasgow G1 1XU
United Kingdom

Alexander C Wagenaar

University of Florida, College of Medicine ( email )

PO Box 117165, 201 Stuzin Hall
Gainesville, FL 32610-0496
United States

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