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Can Nudges Increase Take-Up of the EITC? Evidence from Multiple Field Experiments

Author

Listed:
  • Elizabeth Linos
  • Allen Prohofsky
  • Aparna Ramesh
  • Jesse Rothstein
  • Matthew Unrath

Abstract

The Earned Income Tax Credit distributes more than $60 billion to over 20 million low-income families annually. Nevertheless, an estimated one-fifth of eligible households do not claim it. We ran six preregistered, large-scale field experiments with 1 million observations to test whether "nudges" could increase EITC take-up. Despite varying the content, design, messenger, and mode of our messages, we find no evidence that they affected households' likelihood of filing a tax return or claiming the credit. We conclude that even the most behaviorally informed low-touch outreach efforts cannot overcome the barriers faced by low-income households who do not file returns.

Suggested Citation

  • Elizabeth Linos & Allen Prohofsky & Aparna Ramesh & Jesse Rothstein & Matthew Unrath, 2022. "Can Nudges Increase Take-Up of the EITC? Evidence from Multiple Field Experiments," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 14(4), pages 432-452, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aejpol:v:14:y:2022:i:4:p:432-52
    DOI: 10.1257/pol.20200603
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    Cited by:

    1. Li, Yuanxiang John & Hoffman, Elizabeth, 2023. "Designing an incentive mechanism for information security policy compliance: An experiment," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 138-159.
    2. Lucie Martin & Liam Delaney & Orla Doyle, 2022. "Everyday Administrative Burdens and Inequality," Working Papers 202202, Geary Institute, University College Dublin.
    3. Pamela Herd & Donald Moynihan, 2023. "Fewer Burdens but Greater Inequality? Reevaluating the Safety Net through the Lens of Administrative Burden," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 706(1), pages 94-117, March.
    4. Rosenqvist, Olof & Selin, Håkan, 2023. "Explaining benefit take-up behavior – the role of incentives and habits," Working Paper Series 2023:24, IFAU - Institute for Evaluation of Labour Market and Education Policy.
    5. Margot I. Jackson & Ester Fanelli, 2023. "Who Uses the Social Safety Net? Trends in Public Benefit Use among American Households with Children, 1980–2020," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 706(1), pages 16-36, March.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • H24 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Personal Income and Other Nonbusiness Taxes and Subsidies
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs

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