political science

Table 39.1

Four selected social experiments

Exper ment

Tested ntervent on

Des gn

Resu ts

D ssem nat on

Income ma ntenanceexper ments (1968–78)

Income supp ements for we farerec p ents w th var ed tax ratefor pa d work

Random y ass gned fam esto vary ng benef t reduct onrates n 11 s tes

Payment of ncome subs dys ght y reduced number ofhours worked

W de y pub shed n books,journa art c es, and reports

RAND hea th nsuranceexper ment (1974–82)

Var ed cost shar ng for med caserv ces

Random y ass gned fam esto d fferent cost-shar ngprograms n 6 s tes

Increases n cost shar ngreduced use of hea th serv cesw thout s gn f cant y affect nghea th status

Numerous pub cat ons,w de y d ssem nated

MDRC we fare-to-workexper ments (1975–88)

Prov ded job tra n ng and otheremp oyment serv ces to AFDCpart c pants

Random y ass gned AFDCrec p ents to var ousemp oyment programs n10 s tes

Cons stent sma pos t veeffects on part c pants’earn ngs, reduct ons n we farero s and n cost to taxpayers

W de y d ssem nated dur ngwe fare debates

Nurs ng home ncent vere mbursementexper ment (1980–3)

Prov ded re mbursement ncent vesfor nurs ng homes accept ngMed ca d pat ents

Random y ass gned 36nurs ng homes to part c paten ntervent on program orcontro group

L tt e effect of re mbursementon hea th outcomes ord scharge of Med ca d pat ents.S ght y ncreased adm ss onsof heavy care pat ents

Not w de y d ssem nated

social experimentation for public policy 811