Our Daily Bread : What is the Evidence on Comparing Cash versus Food Transfers?

This paper reviews key issues in the 'cash versus food' debate, including as they relate to political economy, theory, evidence, and practice. In doing so, it benefited from a new generation of 12 impact evaluations deliberately comparing...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Gentilini, Ugo
Format: Working Paper
Language:English
en_US
Published: World Bank Group, Washington, DC 2014
Subjects:
TEA
WFP
Online Access:http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/214-/7-/19804776/daily-bread-evidence-comparing-cash-versus-food-transfers
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/19981
id okr-10986-19981
recordtype oai_dc
repository_type Digital Repository
institution_category Foreign Institution
institution Digital Repositories
building World Bank Open Knowledge Repository
collection World Bank
language English
en_US
topic ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS
AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES
AGRICULTURAL INPUTS
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY
ANEMIA
AVAILABILITY OF FOOD
BARS
BENEFICIARIES
BENEFICIARY
BREAD
CALORIC INTAKE
CALORIE INTAKE
CASH GRANTS
CASH INTERVENTIONS
CASH PAYMENTS
CASH TRANSFER
CASH TRANSFER PROGRAMS
CASH TRANSFERS
CASSAVA
CEREALS
CHILD MALNUTRITION
CHOCOLATE
CHRONIC FOOD INSECURITY
CHRONIC MALNUTRITION
COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
CONDIMENTS
CONDITIONAL CASH
CONDITIONAL TRANSFER
CONSUMPTION SMOOTHING
CORN
COST-EFFECTIVENESS
DAIRY
DIET
DISTRIBUTION OF BENEFITS
DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH
DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
DRIED FISH
EGGS
EXTREME POVERTY
FAMINE
FAMINES
FARMERS
FLOUR
FOOD ACCESS
FOOD AID
FOOD ASSISTANCE
FOOD AVAILABILITY
FOOD BASKET
FOOD BASKETS
FOOD COMMODITIES
FOOD CONSUMPTION
FOOD DEMAND
FOOD DISTRIBUTION
FOOD EXPENDITURES
FOOD FOR EDUCATION
FOOD INSECURITY
FOOD ITEMS
FOOD NEEDS
FOOD POLICY
FOOD PRICES
FOOD PRODUCTION
FOOD PROGRAMS
FOOD PURCHASES
FOOD QUANTITY
FOOD RATION
FOOD RATIONS
FOOD SECURITY
FOOD SECURITY INDICATORS
FOOD SECURITY ISSUES
FOOD SHORTAGE
FOOD STAMP
FOOD STAMPS
FOOD TRANSFER
FOOD TRANSFERS
FOOD-FOR-WORK
FOODS
FRUIT
FRUITS
GLOBAL FOOD PRODUCTION
GRAINS
HEALTH CARE
HOME RATION
HOME RATIONS
HONEY
HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION
HOUSEHOLD FOOD
HOUSEHOLD FOOD CONSUMPTION
HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY
HOUSEHOLD INCOME
HOUSEHOLD LEVEL
HOUSEHOLD RESOURCES
HOUSEHOLD SIZE
HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE
HUNGER
INCOME
INCOME GROWTH
INSURANCE
IRON
LABELING
LEAN SEASON
LEGUMES
MAINTENANCE PROGRAM
MAIZE
MAIZE MARKET
MALNUTRITION
MARKET ANALYSIS
MARKET PRICES
MEAT
MEATS
MICRONUTRIENTS
MILK POWDER
NATURAL DISASTERS
NUTRIENT
NUTRIENTS
NUTRITION ASSISTANCE
NUTRITION NEEDS
NUTRITION TRAINING
NUTRITIONAL CONTENT
NUTRITIONAL VALUE
NUTRITIOUS FOOD
OILS AND FATS
PALM OIL
PASTA
PEANUTS
POLITICAL ECONOMY
POOR
POOR PEOPLE
POOR POPULATIONS
POTATOES
POVERTY GAP
POVERTY LINE
POVERTY-REDUCING POLICIES
PROTECTION SYSTEMS
PROVISION OF FOOD
PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
PUBLIC TRANSFERS
PUBLIC WORKS
PULSES
PURCHASING POWER
RED BEANS
REFUGEE CAMPS
RICE
RISK MANAGEMENT
RURAL
RURAL MAINTENANCE
RURAL ROADS
SAFETY NET
SAFETY NET PROGRAMS
SAFETY NET TRANSFERS
SAFETY NETS
SAVINGS
SCHOOL FEEDING
SCHOOL FEES
SEAFOOD
SHARE OF TRANSFERS
SOCIAL PROTECTION
SOCIAL SAFETY NETS
SORGHUM
STAPLE FOODS
STARCH
SUGAR
SUPERMARKET
SUPERMARKETS
TARGETING
TEA
TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT
TRANSACTION COSTS
TRANSFER AMOUNT
TRANSFER AMOUNTS
TRANSFER INCOME
TRANSFER PROGRAM
TRANSFER PROGRAMS
TRANSFER SIZES
TRANSFERS IN CASH
TUBERS
VEGETABLES
VITAMIN
VOUCHER SCHEME
VOUCHERS
VULNERABLE GROUP
VULNERABLE PEOPLE
WFP
WHEAT
WHEAT FLOUR
WORKS PROGRAM
spellingShingle ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS
AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES
AGRICULTURAL INPUTS
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY
ANEMIA
AVAILABILITY OF FOOD
BARS
BENEFICIARIES
BENEFICIARY
BREAD
CALORIC INTAKE
CALORIE INTAKE
CASH GRANTS
CASH INTERVENTIONS
CASH PAYMENTS
CASH TRANSFER
CASH TRANSFER PROGRAMS
CASH TRANSFERS
CASSAVA
CEREALS
CHILD MALNUTRITION
CHOCOLATE
CHRONIC FOOD INSECURITY
CHRONIC MALNUTRITION
COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
CONDIMENTS
CONDITIONAL CASH
CONDITIONAL TRANSFER
CONSUMPTION SMOOTHING
CORN
COST-EFFECTIVENESS
DAIRY
DIET
DISTRIBUTION OF BENEFITS
DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH
DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
DRIED FISH
EGGS
EXTREME POVERTY
FAMINE
FAMINES
FARMERS
FLOUR
FOOD ACCESS
FOOD AID
FOOD ASSISTANCE
FOOD AVAILABILITY
FOOD BASKET
FOOD BASKETS
FOOD COMMODITIES
FOOD CONSUMPTION
FOOD DEMAND
FOOD DISTRIBUTION
FOOD EXPENDITURES
FOOD FOR EDUCATION
FOOD INSECURITY
FOOD ITEMS
FOOD NEEDS
FOOD POLICY
FOOD PRICES
FOOD PRODUCTION
FOOD PROGRAMS
FOOD PURCHASES
FOOD QUANTITY
FOOD RATION
FOOD RATIONS
FOOD SECURITY
FOOD SECURITY INDICATORS
FOOD SECURITY ISSUES
FOOD SHORTAGE
FOOD STAMP
FOOD STAMPS
FOOD TRANSFER
FOOD TRANSFERS
FOOD-FOR-WORK
FOODS
FRUIT
FRUITS
GLOBAL FOOD PRODUCTION
GRAINS
HEALTH CARE
HOME RATION
HOME RATIONS
HONEY
HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION
HOUSEHOLD FOOD
HOUSEHOLD FOOD CONSUMPTION
HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY
HOUSEHOLD INCOME
HOUSEHOLD LEVEL
HOUSEHOLD RESOURCES
HOUSEHOLD SIZE
HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE
HUNGER
INCOME
INCOME GROWTH
INSURANCE
IRON
LABELING
LEAN SEASON
LEGUMES
MAINTENANCE PROGRAM
MAIZE
MAIZE MARKET
MALNUTRITION
MARKET ANALYSIS
MARKET PRICES
MEAT
MEATS
MICRONUTRIENTS
MILK POWDER
NATURAL DISASTERS
NUTRIENT
NUTRIENTS
NUTRITION ASSISTANCE
NUTRITION NEEDS
NUTRITION TRAINING
NUTRITIONAL CONTENT
NUTRITIONAL VALUE
NUTRITIOUS FOOD
OILS AND FATS
PALM OIL
PASTA
PEANUTS
POLITICAL ECONOMY
POOR
POOR PEOPLE
POOR POPULATIONS
POTATOES
POVERTY GAP
POVERTY LINE
POVERTY-REDUCING POLICIES
PROTECTION SYSTEMS
PROVISION OF FOOD
PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
PUBLIC TRANSFERS
PUBLIC WORKS
PULSES
PURCHASING POWER
RED BEANS
REFUGEE CAMPS
RICE
RISK MANAGEMENT
RURAL
RURAL MAINTENANCE
RURAL ROADS
SAFETY NET
SAFETY NET PROGRAMS
SAFETY NET TRANSFERS
SAFETY NETS
SAVINGS
SCHOOL FEEDING
SCHOOL FEES
SEAFOOD
SHARE OF TRANSFERS
SOCIAL PROTECTION
SOCIAL SAFETY NETS
SORGHUM
STAPLE FOODS
STARCH
SUGAR
SUPERMARKET
SUPERMARKETS
TARGETING
TEA
TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT
TRANSACTION COSTS
TRANSFER AMOUNT
TRANSFER AMOUNTS
TRANSFER INCOME
TRANSFER PROGRAM
TRANSFER PROGRAMS
TRANSFER SIZES
TRANSFERS IN CASH
TUBERS
VEGETABLES
VITAMIN
VOUCHER SCHEME
VOUCHERS
VULNERABLE GROUP
VULNERABLE PEOPLE
WFP
WHEAT
WHEAT FLOUR
WORKS PROGRAM
Gentilini, Ugo
Our Daily Bread : What is the Evidence on Comparing Cash versus Food Transfers?
relation Social protection and labor discussion paper;no. 1420
description This paper reviews key issues in the 'cash versus food' debate, including as they relate to political economy, theory, evidence, and practice. In doing so, it benefited from a new generation of 12 impact evaluations deliberately comparing alternative transfer modalities. Findings show that differences in effectiveness vary by indicator, although they tend to be moderate on average. In some cases differences are more marked (i.e., food consumption and calorie availability), but in most instances they are not statistically significant. In general, transfers' performance and their difference seem a function of the organic and fluid interactions among factors like the profile and 'initial conditions' of beneficiaries, the capacity of local markets, and program objectives and design. Costs associated with cash transfers and vouchers tend to be substantially lower relative to food. Yet methods for cost-effectiveness analysis vary and need to be more standardized and nuanced. The reviewed evaluations are helping to shift the debate from one shaped by ideology, political economy and 'inference' of evidence to one centering on robust and context-specific results.
format Publications & Research :: Working Paper
author Gentilini, Ugo
author_facet Gentilini, Ugo
author_sort Gentilini, Ugo
title Our Daily Bread : What is the Evidence on Comparing Cash versus Food Transfers?
title_short Our Daily Bread : What is the Evidence on Comparing Cash versus Food Transfers?
title_full Our Daily Bread : What is the Evidence on Comparing Cash versus Food Transfers?
title_fullStr Our Daily Bread : What is the Evidence on Comparing Cash versus Food Transfers?
title_full_unstemmed Our Daily Bread : What is the Evidence on Comparing Cash versus Food Transfers?
title_sort our daily bread : what is the evidence on comparing cash versus food transfers?
publisher World Bank Group, Washington, DC
publishDate 2014
url http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/214-/7-/19804776/daily-bread-evidence-comparing-cash-versus-food-transfers
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/19981
_version_ 1764444846788968448
spelling okr-10986-199812021-04-23T14:03:54Z Our Daily Bread : What is the Evidence on Comparing Cash versus Food Transfers? Gentilini, Ugo ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES AGRICULTURAL INPUTS AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY ANEMIA AVAILABILITY OF FOOD BARS BENEFICIARIES BENEFICIARY BREAD CALORIC INTAKE CALORIE INTAKE CASH GRANTS CASH INTERVENTIONS CASH PAYMENTS CASH TRANSFER CASH TRANSFER PROGRAMS CASH TRANSFERS CASSAVA CEREALS CHILD MALNUTRITION CHOCOLATE CHRONIC FOOD INSECURITY CHRONIC MALNUTRITION COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT CONDIMENTS CONDITIONAL CASH CONDITIONAL TRANSFER CONSUMPTION SMOOTHING CORN COST-EFFECTIVENESS DAIRY DIET DISTRIBUTION OF BENEFITS DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM DRIED FISH EGGS EXTREME POVERTY FAMINE FAMINES FARMERS FLOUR FOOD ACCESS FOOD AID FOOD ASSISTANCE FOOD AVAILABILITY FOOD BASKET FOOD BASKETS FOOD COMMODITIES FOOD CONSUMPTION FOOD DEMAND FOOD DISTRIBUTION FOOD EXPENDITURES FOOD FOR EDUCATION FOOD INSECURITY FOOD ITEMS FOOD NEEDS FOOD POLICY FOOD PRICES FOOD PRODUCTION FOOD PROGRAMS FOOD PURCHASES FOOD QUANTITY FOOD RATION FOOD RATIONS FOOD SECURITY FOOD SECURITY INDICATORS FOOD SECURITY ISSUES FOOD SHORTAGE FOOD STAMP FOOD STAMPS FOOD TRANSFER FOOD TRANSFERS FOOD-FOR-WORK FOODS FRUIT FRUITS GLOBAL FOOD PRODUCTION GRAINS HEALTH CARE HOME RATION HOME RATIONS HONEY HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION HOUSEHOLD FOOD HOUSEHOLD FOOD CONSUMPTION HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY HOUSEHOLD INCOME HOUSEHOLD LEVEL HOUSEHOLD RESOURCES HOUSEHOLD SIZE HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE HUNGER INCOME INCOME GROWTH INSURANCE IRON LABELING LEAN SEASON LEGUMES MAINTENANCE PROGRAM MAIZE MAIZE MARKET MALNUTRITION MARKET ANALYSIS MARKET PRICES MEAT MEATS MICRONUTRIENTS MILK POWDER NATURAL DISASTERS NUTRIENT NUTRIENTS NUTRITION ASSISTANCE NUTRITION NEEDS NUTRITION TRAINING NUTRITIONAL CONTENT NUTRITIONAL VALUE NUTRITIOUS FOOD OILS AND FATS PALM OIL PASTA PEANUTS POLITICAL ECONOMY POOR POOR PEOPLE POOR POPULATIONS POTATOES POVERTY GAP POVERTY LINE POVERTY-REDUCING POLICIES PROTECTION SYSTEMS PROVISION OF FOOD PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM PUBLIC TRANSFERS PUBLIC WORKS PULSES PURCHASING POWER RED BEANS REFUGEE CAMPS RICE RISK MANAGEMENT RURAL RURAL MAINTENANCE RURAL ROADS SAFETY NET SAFETY NET PROGRAMS SAFETY NET TRANSFERS SAFETY NETS SAVINGS SCHOOL FEEDING SCHOOL FEES SEAFOOD SHARE OF TRANSFERS SOCIAL PROTECTION SOCIAL SAFETY NETS SORGHUM STAPLE FOODS STARCH SUGAR SUPERMARKET SUPERMARKETS TARGETING TEA TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT TRANSACTION COSTS TRANSFER AMOUNT TRANSFER AMOUNTS TRANSFER INCOME TRANSFER PROGRAM TRANSFER PROGRAMS TRANSFER SIZES TRANSFERS IN CASH TUBERS VEGETABLES VITAMIN VOUCHER SCHEME VOUCHERS VULNERABLE GROUP VULNERABLE PEOPLE WFP WHEAT WHEAT FLOUR WORKS PROGRAM This paper reviews key issues in the 'cash versus food' debate, including as they relate to political economy, theory, evidence, and practice. In doing so, it benefited from a new generation of 12 impact evaluations deliberately comparing alternative transfer modalities. Findings show that differences in effectiveness vary by indicator, although they tend to be moderate on average. In some cases differences are more marked (i.e., food consumption and calorie availability), but in most instances they are not statistically significant. In general, transfers' performance and their difference seem a function of the organic and fluid interactions among factors like the profile and 'initial conditions' of beneficiaries, the capacity of local markets, and program objectives and design. Costs associated with cash transfers and vouchers tend to be substantially lower relative to food. Yet methods for cost-effectiveness analysis vary and need to be more standardized and nuanced. The reviewed evaluations are helping to shift the debate from one shaped by ideology, political economy and 'inference' of evidence to one centering on robust and context-specific results. 2014-09-08T21:15:19Z 2014-09-08T21:15:19Z 2014-07 http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/214-/7-/19804776/daily-bread-evidence-comparing-cash-versus-food-transfers http://hdl.handle.net/10986/19981 English en_US Social protection and labor discussion paper;no. 1420 CC BY 3.0 IGO http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/ World Bank Group, Washington, DC Publications & Research :: Working Paper