Replication data for: The Impact of Family Income on Child Achievement: Evidence from the Earned Income Tax Credit

Principal Investigator(s): View help for Principal Investigator(s) Gordon B. Dahl; Lance Lochner

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Project Citation:

Dahl, Gordon B., and Lochner, Lance. Replication data for: The Impact of Family Income on Child Achievement: Evidence from the Earned Income Tax Credit. Nashville, TN: American Economic Association [publisher], 2012. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2019-10-11. https://doi.org/10.3886/E112542V1

Project Description

Summary: Using an instrumental variables strategy, we estimate the causal effect of income on children's math and reading achievement. Our identification derives from the large, nonlinear changes in the Earned Income Tax Credit. The largest of these changes increased family income by as much as 20 percent, or approximately $2,100, between 1993 and 1997. Our baseline estimates imply that a $1,000 increase in income raises combined math and reading test scores by 6 percent of a standard deviation in the short run. Test gains are larger for children from disadvantaged families and robust to a variety of alternative specifications. (JEL H24, H31, I21, I38, J13)

Scope of Project

JEL Classification:
      H24 Personal Income and Other Nonbusiness Taxes and Subsidies; includes inheritance and gift taxes
      H31 Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents: Household
      I21 Analysis of Education
      I38 Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty: Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
      J13 Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth

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Published Versions

V1 [2019-10-11]

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DDI 2.5

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