Mary Reader

All Publications

• The infant health effects of starting universal child benefits in pregnancy: Evidence from England and Wales JOURNAL OF HEALTH ECONOMICS Reader, M. 2023; 89: 102751

  Abstract

  Child benefits are typically paid from birth. This paper asks whether starting universal child benefits in pregnancy leads to improvements in infant health. Leveraging administrative birth registry and hospital microdata from England and Wales, I study the effects of the Health in Pregnancy Grant, a universal conditional cash transfer equivalent to three months of child benefit (190 GBP) as a lump sum to pregnant mothers from 2009 to 2011. I exploit quasi-experimental variation in eligibility with a regression discontinuity design in the date of birth of the baby. I find that the policy increased birth weight by 8-12 grams on average, reduced low birth weight (<2500 g) by 3-6 percent and decreased prematurity by 9-11 percent. Younger mothers, particularly those living in deprived areas, benefit the most. I present evidence that the mechanisms are unlikely to be antenatal care, nutrition or smoking, with reductions in stress remaining a possible explanation.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2023.102751

  View details for Web of Science ID 000957632700001

  View details for PubMedID 36948047

• Capping welfare payments for workless families increases employment and economic inactivity: Evidence from the UK&apos;s benefit cap INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL WELFARE Reeves, A., Fransham, M., Stewart, K., Reader, M., Patrick, R. 2024

  View details for DOI 10.1111/ijsw.12651

  View details for Web of Science ID 001173007100001