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Intergenerational effects of a casino-funded family transfer program on educational outcomes in an American Indian community

Author

Listed:
  • Tim A. Bruckner

    (University of California
    University of California)

  • Brenda Bustos

    (University of California)

  • Kenneth A. Dodge

    (Duke University)

  • Jennifer E. Lansford

    (Duke University)

  • Candice L. Odgers

    (University of California)

  • William E. Copeland

    (University of Vermont)

Abstract

Cash transfer policies have been widely discussed as mechanisms to curb intergenerational transmission of socioeconomic disadvantage. In this paper, we take advantage of a large casino-funded family transfer program introduced in a Southeastern American Indian Tribe to generate difference-in-difference estimates of the link between children’s cash transfer exposure and third grade math and reading test scores of their offspring. Here we show greater math (0.25 standard deviation [SD], p =.0148, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 0.05, 0.45) and reading (0.28 SD, p = .0066, 95% CI: 0.08, 0.49) scores among American Indian students whose mother was exposed ten years longer than other American Indian students to the cash transfer during her childhood (or relative to the non-American Indian student referent group). Exploratory analyses find that a mother’s decision to pursue higher education and delay fertility appears to explain some, but not all, of the relation between cash transfers and children’s test scores. In this rural population, large cash transfers have the potential to reduce intergenerational cycles of poverty-related educational outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Tim A. Bruckner & Brenda Bustos & Kenneth A. Dodge & Jennifer E. Lansford & Candice L. Odgers & William E. Copeland, 2024. "Intergenerational effects of a casino-funded family transfer program on educational outcomes in an American Indian community," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-52428-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52428-w
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    References listed on IDEAS

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