Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Editor's Pick

Does the Earned-Income Tax Credit Reduce Caregiving for Parents?

Jeffrey Miron

Many conservatives, and some libertarians, endorse work requirements in social safety net programs. That position is understandable, but it is not convincing overall:

Our research examines whether increased EITC [earned income tax credit] generosity reduces the caregiving older adults receive from their EITC-eligible daughters. …

Our findings indicate that when the generosity of the EITC increased, unmarried EITC-eligible daughters provided less assistance with chores and functional limitations to their parents. This effect is especially pronounced among daughters with parents aged 65 and older. …

Our findings highlight an important unintended consequence of including work requirements in social programs and have implications for the well-being of older adults and the structure of social safety net programs.

Thus in this arena, as elsewhere, attempts to control individual behavior can misfire. Perhaps work requirements are still beneficial on net, but the case is far from clear.

This article appeared on Substack on September 25, 2024.

You May Also Like

Editor's Pick

In this StockCharts TV video, Mary Ellen reviews the broader markets after last week’s rate-cut induced rally. She also shares stocks that are breaking out...

World News

When our ruling classes speak of “believing in democracy,” they are speaking of a romantic version of a form of governance that, in real...

Editor's Pick

Adam N. Michel Tax policy has taken on an outsized role in this year’s presidential campaign and was mentioned repeatedly in the recent presidential...

Editor's Pick

David J. Bier New numbers from the Census Bureau’s mini-census, the American Community Survey (ACS), show that the immigrant population is increasing but is...