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The Effect Of Unemployment Insurance On The Safety Net And Infant Health In The Usa

Author

Listed:
  • Hamid Noghanibehambari
  • Mahmoud Salari

Abstract

This paper examines the effects of Unemployment Insurance temporary cash transfer payments on birth outcomes in the United States. Using natality data for the years 1970–2019 and implementing a triple-difference strategy, we find that the programme has sizeable and significant effects on the health outcomes of new-borns, including birth weight, gestational age, and Apgar score. Moreover, we show that these effects are more pronounced among black mothers, low-educated mothers, and unmarried mothers.

Suggested Citation

  • Hamid Noghanibehambari & Mahmoud Salari, 2022. "The Effect Of Unemployment Insurance On The Safety Net And Infant Health In The Usa," Economic Annals, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Belgrade, vol. 67(234), pages 7-28, July – Se.
    • Handle: RePEc:beo:journl:v:67:y:2022:i:234:p:7-28
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Álvarez-Aranda, Rocío & Chirkova, Serafima & Romero, José Gabriel, 2020. "Growing in the womb: The effect of seismic activity on fetal growth," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 36(C).
    2. Y. Natalia Alfonso & Guiru Ding & David Bishai, 2016. "Income Elasticity of Vaccines Spending versus General Healthcare Spending," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 25(7), pages 860-872, July.
    3. Verónica Amarante & Marco Manacorda & Edward Miguel & Andrea Vigorito, 2016. "Do Cash Transfers Improve Birth Outcomes? Evidence from Matched Vital Statistics, Program, and Social Security Data," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 8(2), pages 1-43, May.
    4. Douglas Almond & Hilary W. Hoynes & Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach, 2011. "Inside the War on Poverty: The Impact of Food Stamps on Birth Outcomes," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 93(2), pages 387-403, May.
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D62 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Externalities
    • H51 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Health
    • I13 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Insurance, Public and Private
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • J65 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment Insurance; Severance Pay; Plant Closings
    • P36 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist Institutions and Their Transitions - - - Consumer Economics; Health; Education and Training; Welfare, Income, Wealth, and Poverty

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