Yunju Nam

Household Assets and Food Stamp Program Participation Among Eligible Low-Income Households

This study examines the association between asset ownership and Food Stamp Program participation among eligible households using a sample from a longitudinal national survey. This study employs two approaches: a multinomial logit regression on the level of program participation and an event history analysis on the duration of eligible nonparticipation spells. Analysis results show that asset ownership, especially vehicle ownership, is negatively related to program participation, suggesting that asset ownership may reduce the chance that eligible low-income households receive food assistance. It is recommended that program administrators simplify procedures and expand outreach to facilitate program participation among low-income asset owners.

Socioeconomic Status and Early Savings Outcomes: Evidence from a Statewide Child Development Account Experiment

For every child in the treatment group, SEED OK opened a state-owned OK 529 account and “seeded” it with

Economic intervention and parenting: a randomized experiment of statewide child development accounts

1,000.1 Primary caregivers of these treatment children were also encouraged to open their own (private, not state-owned) OK 529 account with the child as benefi ciary. Those who opened a “participantowned” OK 529 account by April 15, 2009, received a

Universal Accounts at Birth: Building Knowledge to Inform Policy

100 account-opening incentive. For about four years, lowand moderate-income treatment families were eligible for additional incentives, in the form of saving matches. Caregivers in the control group did not receive any information from SEED OK about the OK 529, were not eligible for the state-owned OK 529 account, and were not offered any SEED OK fi nancial incentives. However, they could open their own “participant-owned” OK 529 accounts, just as any nonstudy participant can (Zager et al., 2010). | JULY 2012 | CSD PUBLICATION NO. 12-34 |

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Food Insufficiency: Evidence from a Statewide Probability Sample

Objective: We examine the effects of Child Development Accounts (CDAs) on parenting stress and practices. Methods: We use data from the SEED for Oklahoma Kids (SEED OK) experiment. SEED OK selected caregivers of infants from Oklahoma birth certificates using a probability sampling method, randomly assigned caregivers to the treatment (n = 1,132) or control group (n = 1,098), and provided college savings incentives only to the treatment group. We run regression analyses on a parenting stress scale and six continuous measures of parenting practices. Results: There were no significant differences in parenting outcomes between treatment and control groups, with the exception of frequency of screaming at the child. CDAs have more salient effects on American Indians than on other groups. Conclusions: We present weak evidence for CDAs’ positive impacts on parenting outcomes. Further research is needed to determine whether these initial results change over time.

Universal and Progressive Child Development Accounts: A Policy Innovation to Reduce Educational Disparity

Objective: This article summarizes the design, implementation, and early findings of a statewide randomized experiment of Child Development Accounts (CDAs). The SEED for Oklahoma Kids experiment (SEED OK) is testing a concept for a universal, progressive asset-building policy with potential for national application. CDAs can start as early as birth, providing structured opportunities (e.g., financial access, information, incentives) to encourage asset accumulation for postsecondary education and other developmental purposes. Theory and evidence suggest that CDAs can improve educational outcomes, especially among disadvantaged youth. Method: Participating in a rigorous randomized controlled design, primary caregivers of children born in Oklahoma in 2007 completed a baseline telephone survey before random assignment to the treatment group (n = 1,358) or control group (n = 1,346); these caregivers completed a follow-up survey 4 years later. For children in the treatment group, the SEED OK experiment automatically opened an Oklahoma 529 College Savings Plan (OK 529) account with a

Ethnic Differences in Financial Outcomes Among Low-Income Older Asian Immigrants: A Financial Capability Perspective

1,000 initial deposit. In addition, low- and moderate-income families in the treatment group were eligible for a savings match for deposits to their own OK 529 accounts. Results: Findings indicate that CDAs can be implemented universally in a full population to increase the accumulation of college assets. The CDA in SEED OK greatly reduces disparities in OK 529 asset accumulation associated with socioeconomic characteristics. The CDA also has positive effects on parental educational expectations for children, maternal depressive symptoms, and children’s social-emotional development. Conclusions: In contrast to college savings programs that require parents to open an account, SEED OK’s universal, automatic, and progressive CDA model gives all children the opportunity to benefit from college-account and asset ownership.

SEED Account Monitoring Research

Objective: This study examines racial/ethnic disparities in the experience of food insufficiency among families with infants, focusing on the roles of socioeconomic characteristics. Method: We examine the SEED for Oklahoma Kids experiment data collected from a probability sample of White, African American, American Indian, and Hispanic caregivers of infants randomly selected from Oklahoma’s birth certificates (N = 2,652). Data are analyzed using Fairlie’s extension of the Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition. Results: Whites experience food insufficiency at a statistically significantly lower rate than do the 3 minority groups. Estimates suggest most of the racial/ethnic disparity in food insufficiency is explained by compositional differences in economic and noneconomic resources between Whites and minority groups. In particular, lower levels of asset ownership and access to credit among minority groups are estimated to contribute to higher levels of food insufficiency in comparison with Whites. Conclusions: Higher levels of food insufficiency among racial/ethnic minority families call for interventions for these families.

Equal opportunity for all? Parental economic resources and children's educational attainment

Child Development Accounts (CDAs) aim to increase college completion rates among disadvantaged youth by helping youth see themselves as “college bound.” This article summarizes findings about the implementation and impacts of universal, progressive CDAs, with emphasis on outcomes for disadvantaged children. Data come from a large randomized experiment. CDAs positively affect ownership of college savings accounts and assets, educational expectations, and other indicators of well-being. Disadvantaged children especially benefit from having a CDA. If CDAs prove to have long-term effects on educational expectations, college preparation, and educational achievement, then a national universal, progressive CDA could reduce educational disparities.

Do Child Development Accounts Promote Account Holding, Saving, and Asset Accumulation for Children's Future? Evidence from a Statewide Randomized Experiment

ABSTRACT This exploratory study examined ethnic differences in financial outcomes among low-income older Asian immigrants from a financial capability perspective. We used survey data collected from a convenience sample of Chinese, Korean, and “Other Asian” ethnic participants in a subsidized employment program (n = 159). We ran logit regressions of dichotomous financial outcomes. Regression analysis showed significant ethnic differences in some financial outcomes after controlling for financial capability and other factors. Findings did not support our hypothesis that financial capability explains ethnic differences in financial outcomes. Findings suggest the need to develop culturally suitable financial capability measures for future research.