American Economic Review: Insights
ISSN 2640-205X (Print) | ISSN 2640-2068 (Online)
Breadwinner's Burden: The Effect of Financial Concerns on Sleeplessness
American Economic Review: Insights
(pp. 53–71)
Abstract
Using a regression discontinuity design, we find that eligible household heads surveyed just after an unconditional cash transfer in Indonesia report a 0.4 standard deviation improvement in sleep quality compared to those surveyed just before, and they perform better on cognitive tasks sensitive to sleep deprivation. The cash transfer appears to alleviate financial concerns for household heads—typically the breadwinners—improving their sleep. Postdisbursement, eligible households increase savings and reduce debts, and household heads feel less worried, frustrated, and tired. These effects are not observed in ineligible household heads or other members of eligible households.Citation
Duquennois, Claire, and Maulik Jagnani. 2026. "Breadwinner's Burden: The Effect of Financial Concerns on Sleeplessness." American Economic Review: Insights 8 (1): 53–71. DOI: 10.1257/aeri.20240312Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- D12 Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
- D91 Micro-Based Behavioral Economics: Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
- G51 Household Finance: Household Saving, Borrowing, Debt, and Wealth
- I38 Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty: Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
- O12 Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
- O16 Economic Development: Financial Markets; Saving and Capital Investment; Corporate Finance and Governance