The effect of unconditional cash transfers on maternal assessments of children’s early language and socioemotional development
Experimental evidence from U.S. families residing in poverty
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 9786428 |
|---|---|
| Authors | E Richard Hart (0000-0003-3808-0838, Columbia University, corresponding author), Lisa A Gennetian (0000-0002-4639-7547, Duke University), Jessica F Sperber (0000-0002-1636-5560, Columbia University), Renata Penalva (0000-0001-6417-2803, Columbia University), Katherine Magnuson (0000-0002-1140-1200, University of Wisconsin–Madison), Greg J Duncan (0000-0002-9869-6311, University of California, Irvine), Sarah Halpern-Meekin (0000-0002-2142-5097, University of Wisconsin–Madison), Hirokazu Yoshikawa (0000-0001-5607-8526, New York University), Nathan A Fox (0000-0003-4452-4503), Kimberly G Noble (0000-0003-1496-5113, Columbia University) |
| Year | 2024 |
| Volume | 60 |
| Issue | 12 |
| Pages | 2290-2305 |
| Publication date | 2024-12-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Developmental Psychology (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0012-1649 • E-ISSN: 1939-0599 |
| Publisher | American Psychological Association (APA) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1037/dev0001824 |
| PMID | 39172428 |
| OpenAlex | W4401760009 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 5 |
Economic disadvantage has often been associated with poorer performance on measures of early childhood development. However, the causal impacts of income on child development remain unclear. The present study uses data from the Baby's First Years randomized control trial to identify the causal impact of unconditional cash transfers on maternal reports of early childhood development. One thousand racially and ethnically diverse mothers residing in poverty were recruited from four U.S. metropolitan areas shortly after giving birth. Mothers were randomized to receive either a $333/month or $20/month unconditional cash transfer for the first several years of their child's life. Maternal reports of language and socioemotional development, concerns for developmental delay, and enrollment in early intervention services were collected annually at the time of the child's first, second, and third birthdays. In this registered report, we document no statistically detectable impacts of the high-cash gift on maternal reports of child development. We discuss the significance and implications of these findings. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
Child development · Childhood development · Conditional cash transfer · Developmental psychology · Economic growth · Economics · Language development · Poverty · Socioemotional selectivity theory · Early Childhood Education and Development · Education Systems and Policy · Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare · Psychology
| Unique citing works | 5 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 5 |
| Citation span | 2025 - 2026 (2) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 5 |