Myth-Busting? Confronting Six Common Perceptions about Unconditional Cash Transfers as a Poverty Reduction Strategy in Africa
| Autor: | Silvio Daidone, Audrey Pereira, Sudhanshu Handa, Amber Peterman, Benjamin Davis, Jennifer Yablonski, Tia Palermo |
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| Rok vydání: | 2018 |
| Předmět: |
DEPENDENCY
Economics and Econometrics Economic growth Cash transfers 050204 development studies media_common.quotation_subject Public expenditure R28 Development WELFARE PROGRAM Article ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION Income distribution 0502 economics and business Development economics FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY Economics H53 Economic impact analysis 050207 economics INCOME DISTRIBUTION social safety nets media_common I38 Government O12 TOBACCO CONSUMPTION 05 social sciences Livelihood POVERTY REDUCTION O15 Cash CASH TRANSFERS HUMAN CAPITAL Africa PUBLIC EXPENDITURE Unconditional cash transfers Fiscal sustainability INEQUALITY |
| Zdroj: | The World Bank research observer |
| Popis: | This paper summarizes evidence on six perceptions associated with cash transfer programming, using eight rigorous evaluations conducted on large-scale government unconditional cash transfers in sub-Saharan Africa under the Transfer Project. Specifically, it investigates if transfers: 1) induce higher spending on alcohol or tobacco; 2) are fully consumed (rather than invested); 3) create dependency (reduce participation in productive activities); 4) increase fertility; 5) lead to negative community-level economic impacts (including price distortion and inflation); and 6) are fiscally unsustainable. The paper presents evidence refuting each claim, leading to the conclusion that these perceptions-insofar as they are utilized in policy debates-undercut potential improvements in well-being and livelihood strengthening among the poor, which these programs can bring about in sub-Saharan Africa, and globally. It concludes by underscoring outstanding research gaps and policy implications for the continued expansion of unconditional cash transfers in the region and beyond. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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