The employment effects of a means-tested guaranteed income policy

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Verlaat, Timo; Todeschini, Federico; Ramos, Xavier
• 署名单位: Utrecht University; Pompeu Fabra University; Autonomous University of Barcelona
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0047-2727
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2025.105420
• 发表日期: 2025
• 关键词: Welfare; Cash transfer; Policy Evaluation; RCT; labor supply

摘要

Through a randomized controlled trial, we study the labor market effects of a generous means-tested guaranteed income policy targeting low-income families in Barcelona. Two years into the program, beneficiaries are 22 % less likely to work compared to subjects assigned to a control group. A lower phase-out of transfers attenuates negative employment effects and reduces the government cost per euro of benefit by two-thirds. Participation elasticities for a family of four range from 0.39 to 0.49. Treatment effects persisted at least 6 months after the program ended. We find indications that effects are driven by subjects with care duties, suggesting substitution of labor for care tasks.