Impact of Federal Transfers Upon US Infant Mortality Rates: A Secondary Analysis Using a Fixed Effects Regression Approach

Can we lower infant mortality rates by increasing federal money sent to the states?

Examining federal transfers to all 50 states in the period between 2004 and 2011, this study analyzes data from the Urban Institute/Brookings Institution Tax Policy Center, National Vital Statistics Reports, and other federal sources. The results indicate that increases in the per-capita amount of federal transfers to states are associated with declines in infant mortality rates, and the authors estimate that a $200 increase in the per-capita transfer would save one life in every 10,000 births.

Project: Livable Lives Initiative