Publication Date

10-1-2013

Summary

The Center for Social Development at Washington University in St. Louis has implemented an ambitious policy demonstration: SEED for Oklahoma Kids (SEED OK). This initiative uses multiple research methods, including a scientific experiment in a full population, to test a policy innovation. The innovation is providing a Child Development Account (CDA) to all children at birth. In SEED OK, randomly selected newborn children in Oklahoma received a college savings account “seeded” with a $1,000 initial deposit, plus additional components of the SEED OK intervention. This case study describes the multiyear process of designing and implementing SEED OK and sheds light on (a) organization and challenges of large-scale applied social research, (b) rigor and process required for a well-designed experiment, and (c) early research findings and policy implications.

Document Type

Working Paper

Category

Financial Inclusion

Subarea

Asset Building

Notes

Subsequent publication: Mason, L. R., Nam, Y., Clancy, M., & Sherraden, M. (2014). Saving for Education, Entrepreneurship, and Downpayment for Oklahoma Kids: Experimental test of a policy innovation in a full population. SAGE Research Methods Cases. doi:10.4135/978144627305013520671

Original Citation

Mason, L. R., Nam, Y., Clancy, M., & Sherraden, M. (2013). SEED for Oklahoma Kids: Experimental test of a policy innovation in a full population (CSD Working Paper No. 13-24). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.

Project

SEED for Oklahoma Kids

Keywords

SEED OK, CDA, bank accounts, child development, child development account, child savings, child outcomes, child savings account, children, college expectations, college savings, college savings plan, education, educational expectations, educational outcomes, inclusive policy, matched saving, research design, saving, savings, United States

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