The Revival of the "Cash versus Food" Debate : New Evidence for an Old Quandary?

The longstanding “cash versus food” debate has received renewed attention in both research and practice. This paper reviews key issues shaping the debate and presents new evidence from randomized and quasi-experimental evaluations that deliberately compare cash and in-kind food transfers in ten...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author:	Gentilini, Ugo
Format:	Working Paper
Language:	English en_US
Published:	World Bank, Washington, DC 2016
Subjects:	CHILD HEALTH RATIONS SAFETY NET PROGRAMS RISKS HOUSEHOLD SIZE POVERTY LINE FOOD RATION FOOD COMMODITIES ECONOMIC GROWTH TRANSFERS IN CASH INCOME TRANSFER RED BEANS WHEAT FLOUR FOOD CONSUMPTION BREAD INCOME SOCIAL PENSIONS SOCIAL TRANSFERS LEGUMES ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS RESOURCE ALLOCATION WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME POLITICAL ECONOMY CASSAVA FOOD POLICY CONDITIONAL TRANSFER FOOD STAMPS WELFARE DAIRY PASTA IFPRI AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS ULTRA POOR CASH TRANSFER HEALTH PROGRAM BENEFICIARIES MEASURES CHILD GROWTH SAFETY NETS POVERTY REDUCTION SUPERMARKET DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM MAIZE FOOD TRANSFER VULNERABLE GROUP MILK POWDER SAVINGS CEREALS BENEFICIARY FOOD PROVISION SCHOOL MEALS LABELING GLOBAL FOOD PRODUCTION PUBLIC ACTION HEALTH CENTERS LOGISTICS CASH INTERVENTIONS PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM TRANSFERS NATURAL DISASTERS PALM OIL FOOD PRODUCERS HOUSEHOLD INCOME FRUITS VEGETABLES BARS FOOD FORTIFICATION HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS SOCIAL TRANSFER MATERNAL-CHILD HEALTH FOOD EXPENDITURES SOCIAL SECURITY SOCIAL PROTECTION PROTECTION SYSTEMS SOCIAL CONTRACT CHOCOLATE FAMINE GRAINS CASH TRANSFERS FOOD AID SUBSIDIES ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS FOOD PRODUCTION NUTRITION TRAINING HOME RATION TRANSFER PROGRAM HOUSEHOLD LEVEL STAPLE FOODS SAFETY NET TRANSFERS SOCIAL SAFETY NETS INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL SECURITY SOCIAL SPENDING FOOD SECURITY LEAN SEASON MAINTENANCE PROGRAM DROUGHT HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY SCHOOL FEES PROVISION OF GOODS MARKET PRICES PROVISION” OF GOODS PENSIONS FOOD RATIONS CASH PAYMENTS HOME RATIONS FOOD ASSISTANCE FOOD PROGRAMS PURCHASING POWER TUBERS DRIED FISH PEANUTS FRUIT SAFETY NET TRANSFER AMOUNTS AGRICULTURE HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM FOOD SHORTAGE MALNUTRITION CHILD NUTRITION VOUCHERS FOOD RELIEF TRANSFER AMOUNT WFP TRANSACTION COSTS EGGS PUBLIC WORKS FOOD TRANSFERS CASH ASSISTANCE FOOD TRANSFER PROGRAMS AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES FOOD PROGRAMMES NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS EMERGENCY FOOD SCHOOL FEEDING REFUGEE CAMPS FOOD INSECURITY FOOD STAMP TARGETING FOOD DISTRIBUTION FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS POTATOES NUTRITION PROGRAMS EDUCATION PROGRAMS CORN SUPERMARKETS HUMAN RESOURCES POVERTY FOOD SUPPLY MEAT FEEDING PROGRAMS CONDITIONAL CASH MEATS HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION MEAL WHEAT SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMS FOOD AVAILABILITY LABOR SUPPLY WORKS PROGRAM RISK MANAGEMENT RICE CASH TRANSFER PROGRAMS HOUSEHOLD WELFARE SHARE OF TRANSFERS POOR FOOD VOUCHERS FOOD PRICES STARCH TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT FLOUR FOODS PULSES NUTRITION ASSISTANCE SUGAR
Online Access:	http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2016/02/25994405/revival-cash-versus-food-debate-new-evidence-old-quandary http://hdl.handle.net/10986/23922

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Summary:	The longstanding “cash versus food” debate has received renewed attention in both research and practice. This paper reviews key issues shaping the debate and presents new evidence from randomized and quasi-experimental evaluations that deliberately compare cash and in-kind food transfers in ten developing counties. Findings show that relative effectiveness cannot be generalized: although some differences emerge in terms of food consumption and dietary diversity, average impacts tend to depend on context, specific objectives, and their measurement. Costs for cash transfers and vouchers tend to be significantly lower relative to in-kind food. Yet the consistency and robustness of methods for efficiency analyses varies greatly.

The Revival of the "Cash versus Food" Debate : New Evidence for an Old Quandary?

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