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This study examines the effects of individual development accounts (IDAs) on the savings and asset accumulation of low-income individuals. IDAs are subsidized savings accounts that are
targeted for special purposes typically for homeownership, business capitalization, and postsecondary education, but also (under some programs) for home repair or improvement, vehicle purchase, and retirement. The subsidy is provided in the form of funds that match the account holder's withdrawals for allowable asset purchases, at match rates that can exceed 1:1. In the Tulsa experimental IDA program, the allowable account uses were home purchase or
repair/improvement, post-secondary education, microenterprise startup/expansion, or retirement.
This research is based on an evaluation conducted at the Tulsa, Oklahoma IDA program operated by
the Community Action Project of Tulsa County (CAPTC). CAPTC is a multi-service community
action agency whose clients are low-income residents of the Tulsa metropolitan area. The Tulsa program was one of a series of local IDA projects initiated under the American Dream Demonstration (ADD).
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