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A Grant to Every Citizen: Survey Evidence of the Impact of a Direct Government Payment in Israel

Author

Listed:
  • Naomi Feldman
  • Ori Heffetz

Abstract

During the 2020 COVID-19 recession, Israel disbursed one-time, universal grants of $220 per adult and $150 per child. We ask survey respondents about the grant’s primary effect on their situation. Twenty to 45 percent report increasing spending, and 36–52 percent report reducing debts. Importantly, as many respondents report donating or helping friends or family as increasing saving (10–18 percent). While financially weaker respondents reduce debt more, stronger ones not only increase saving but also increase giving — a new finding of nonnegligible, voluntary, decentralized reallocation of governmental assistance. We explore how Israel’s political situation and our methodology may have affected our findings, helped by a follow-up US survey.

Suggested Citation

  • Naomi Feldman & Ori Heffetz, 2022. "A Grant to Every Citizen: Survey Evidence of the Impact of a Direct Government Payment in Israel," National Tax Journal, University of Chicago Press, vol. 75(2), pages 229-263.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:nattax:doi:10.1086/719449
    DOI: 10.1086/719449
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    1. repec:osf:socarx:khw8a_v1 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Kanishka Misra & Vishal Singh & Qianyun (Poppy) Zhang, 2022. "Frontiers: Impact of Stay-at-Home-Orders and Cost-of-Living on Stimulus Response: Evidence from the CARES Act," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 41(2), pages 211-229, March.
    3. Anantha Divakaruni & Peter Zimmerman, 2024. "Uncovering Retail Trading in Bitcoin: The Impact of COVID-19 Stimulus Checks," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 70(4), pages 2066-2085, April.
    4. Bernard, René, 2023. "Mental accounting and the marginal propensity to consume," Discussion Papers 13/2023, Deutsche Bundesbank.
    5. Gray Molina George & Montoya-Aguirre María & Ortiz-Juarez Eduardo, 2022. "Temporary Basic Income in Times of Pandemic: Rationale, Costs and Poverty-Mitigation Potential," Basic Income Studies, De Gruyter, vol. 17(2), pages 125-154, December.
    6. Jonathan A. Parker & Jake Schild & Laura Erhard & David S. Johnson, 2022. "Economic Impact Payments and Household Spending during the Pandemic," Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, Economic Studies Program, The Brookings Institution, vol. 53(2 (Fall)), pages 81-156.
    7. Jonathan A. Parker & Jake Schild & Laura Erhard & David S. Johnson, 2021. "Household Spending Responses to the Economic Impact Payments of 2020: Evidence from the Consumer Expenditure Survey," Economic Working Papers 544, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
    8. Kubota, So & Onishi, Koichiro & Toyama, Yuta, 2021. "Consumption responses to COVID-19 payments: Evidence from a natural experiment and bank account data," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 188(C), pages 1-17.
    9. Bessho, S., 2023. "Elections and COVID-19 benefit payments," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D14 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Saving; Personal Finance
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth
    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory
    • E65 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Studies of Particular Policy Episodes
    • H24 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Personal Income and Other Nonbusiness Taxes and Subsidies
    • H31 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Household

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