Eliminating Fares to Expand Opportunities: Experimental Evidence on the Impacts of Free Public Transportation on Economic and Social Disparities

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Brough, Rebecca; Freedman, Matthew; Phillips, David C.
• 署名单位: University of California System; University of California Davis; University of California System; University of California Irvine; University of Notre Dame
• 刊物名称: AMERICAN ECONOMIC JOURNAL-ECONOMIC POLICY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 1945-7731
• DOI: 10.1257/pol.20230460
• 发表日期: 2025
• 页码: 1-34
• 关键词: light rail transit; physical-activity; Built environment; EMPLOYMENT; neighborhoods; EFFICIENCY; exposure; policies

摘要

We conduct a randomized controlled trial to study the employment effects of providing free public transportation to individuals with low incomes. A temporary subsidy that reduces the price of transit to zero has no significant effects on individuals' paid hours worked or earnings. Using rich administrative data, we also explore a range of other outcomes. We find suggestive evidence that transit subsidies improve measures of financial and physical health. (JEL G51, J22, J31, L92, L98, R48)