Replication data for: Psychological Frictions and the Incomplete Take-Up of Social Benefits: Evidence from an IRS Field Experiment

Principal Investigator(s): View help for Principal Investigator(s) Saurabh Bhargava; Dayanand Manoli

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Project Citation:

Bhargava, Saurabh, and Manoli, Dayanand. Replication data for: Psychological Frictions and the Incomplete Take-Up of Social Benefits: Evidence from an IRS Field Experiment. Nashville, TN: American Economic Association [publisher], 2015. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2019-12-06. https://doi.org/10.3886/E116140V1

Project Description

Summary: We address the role of "psychological frictions" in the incomplete take-up of EITC benefits with an IRS field experiment. We specifically assess the influence of program confusion, informational complexity, and stigma by evaluating response to experimental mailings distributed to 35,050 tax filers who failed to claim $26 million despite an initial notice. While the mere receipt of the mailing, simplification, and the heightened salience of benefits led to substantial additional claiming, attempts to reduce perceived costs of stigma, application, and audits did not. The study, and accompanying surveys, suggests that low program awareness/understanding and informational complexity contribute to the puzzle of low take-up. (JEL C93, D03, H24, M38)

Scope of Project

JEL Classification:
      C93 Field Experiments
      D91 Micro-Based Behavioral Economics: Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
      H24 Personal Income and Other Nonbusiness Taxes and Subsidies; includes inheritance and gift taxes
      M38 Marketing and Advertising: Government Policy and Regulation

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Published Versions

V1 [2019-12-06]

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