Table 10.
Characteristics in the Regression Sample
| 2009 Tax credit lower withholding | 2008 Tax rebate | 2009 Retiree payment | 2009 Hypothetical payment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percent mostly spend | 13 | 22 | 30 | 23 |
| Percent by form of delivery | ||||
| Lower withholding | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| One-time payment | 0 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Percent by timing of survey response | ||||
| Contemporaneous | 100 | 36 | 100 | 100 |
| Six months after receipt | 0 | 32 | 0 | 0 |
| Twelve months after receipt | 0 | 32 | 0 | 0 |
| Percent hypothetical payment | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
| Dollar value of stimulus (imputed annual) | ||||
| Mean | 602 | 1,019 | 250 | 250 |
| Standard deviation | 271 | 605 | 0 | 0 |
| Mean percent of annual income | 1.2 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 0.5 |
| Current finances compared to a year ago | ||||
| Better off | 24 | 23 | 15 | 23 |
| Same | 21 | 22 | 33 | 21 |
| Worse off | 55 | 55 | 52 | 56 |
| Expected income growth g | ||||
| g >= 4% | 24 | 24 | 14 | 23 |
| 4% > g > 0% | 24 | 28 | 22 | 23 |
| g = 0% | 23 | 25 | 33 | 24 |
| 0% > g > –10% | 18 | 16 | 24 | 18 |
| g <= –10% | 12 | 8 | 7 | 13 |
| State unemployment rate near time of receipt | ||||
| Mean (percent) | 9.3 | 5.3 | 9.5 | 9.3 |
| Standard deviation | 1.8 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 1.8 |
| Married | 68 | 62 | 51 | 64 |
| Have children in household | 42 | 36 | 7 | 43 |
| Age of respondent (head or spouse) | ||||
| Under age 30 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 6 |
| Age 30 to 39 | 24 | 19 | 2 | 25 |
| Age 40 to 49 | 28 | 21 | 7 | 28 |
| Age 50 to 64 | 34 | 28 | 23 | 35 |
| Age 65 and over | 8 | 24 | 65 | 5 |
| Did not report age | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Household income | ||||
| Less than $20,000 | 8 | 14 | 31 | 9 |
| $20,001 to $35,000 | 12 | 17 | 21 | 11 |
| $35,001 to $50,000 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 13 |
| $50,001 to $75,000 | 21 | 19 | 11 | 19 |
| More than $75,000 | 43 | 29 | 14 | 44 |
| Did not report income | 3 | 5 | 10 | 4 |
| Household stock wealth | ||||
| None | 25 | 34 | 53 | 27 |
| $1 to $15,000 | 17 | 14 | 9 | 15 |
| $15,001 to $50,000 | 16 | 13 | 5 | 16 |
| $50,001 to $100,000 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 10 |
| $100,001 to $250,000 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 12 |
| More than $250,000 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 10 |
| Did not report stock value | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 |
| Did not report if stockowner | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Percent with interview in 2009 | 100 | 32 | 100 | 100 |
| Observations | 590 | 2,358 | 356 | 609 |
Notes: Authors’ weighted tabulations of the May and June 2008, November and December 2008, and May and July 2009 surveys. Variables with comparisons over “last year” or “next year” are also measured relative to the interview month—and not necessarily the month of stimulus receipt. The state unemployment rate for the 2008 rebates is measured at May 2008 and for the 2009 policies at May 2009. The telephone area codes at the time of the interview are used to determine state of residence.