Myth-Busting? Confronting Six Common Perceptions about Unconditional Cash Transfers as a Poverty Reduction Strategy in Africa
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 highe...
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Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the World Bank
2020
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10986/33275 |
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okr-10986-332752021-05-25T10:54:40Z Myth-Busting? Confronting Six Common Perceptions about Unconditional Cash Transfers as a Poverty Reduction Strategy in Africa Handa, Sudhanshu Daidone, Silvio Peterman, Amber Davis, Benjamin Pereira, Audrey Palermo, Tia Yablonski, Jennifer PUBLIC EXPENDITURE CASH TRANSFERS POVERTY REDUCTION WELFARE PROGRAM INCOME DISTRIBUTION INEQUALITY HUMAN CAPITAL ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION TOBACCO CONSUMPTION DEPENDENCY FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY 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. 2020-02-03T20:09:26Z 2020-02-03T20:09:26Z 2018-08 Journal Article World Bank Research Observer 1564-6971 http://hdl.handle.net/10986/33275 CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 IGO http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/igo World Bank Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the World Bank Publications & Research Publications & Research :: Journal Article Africa Sub-Saharan Africa |
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Digital Repository |
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Foreign Institution |
| institution |
Digital Repositories |
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World Bank Open Knowledge Repository |
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World Bank |
| topic |
PUBLIC EXPENDITURE CASH TRANSFERS POVERTY REDUCTION WELFARE PROGRAM INCOME DISTRIBUTION INEQUALITY HUMAN CAPITAL ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION TOBACCO CONSUMPTION DEPENDENCY FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY |
| spellingShingle |
PUBLIC EXPENDITURE CASH TRANSFERS POVERTY REDUCTION WELFARE PROGRAM INCOME DISTRIBUTION INEQUALITY HUMAN CAPITAL ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION TOBACCO CONSUMPTION DEPENDENCY FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY Handa, Sudhanshu Daidone, Silvio Peterman, Amber Davis, Benjamin Pereira, Audrey Palermo, Tia Yablonski, Jennifer Myth-Busting? Confronting Six Common Perceptions about Unconditional Cash Transfers as a Poverty Reduction Strategy in Africa |
| geographic_facet |
Africa Sub-Saharan Africa |
| description |
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. |
| format |
Journal Article |
| author |
Handa, Sudhanshu Daidone, Silvio Peterman, Amber Davis, Benjamin Pereira, Audrey Palermo, Tia Yablonski, Jennifer |
| author_facet |
Handa, Sudhanshu Daidone, Silvio Peterman, Amber Davis, Benjamin Pereira, Audrey Palermo, Tia Yablonski, Jennifer |
| author_sort |
Handa, Sudhanshu |
| title |
Myth-Busting? Confronting Six Common Perceptions about Unconditional Cash Transfers as a Poverty Reduction Strategy in Africa |
| title_short |
Myth-Busting? Confronting Six Common Perceptions about Unconditional Cash Transfers as a Poverty Reduction Strategy in Africa |
| title_full |
Myth-Busting? Confronting Six Common Perceptions about Unconditional Cash Transfers as a Poverty Reduction Strategy in Africa |
| title_fullStr |
Myth-Busting? Confronting Six Common Perceptions about Unconditional Cash Transfers as a Poverty Reduction Strategy in Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Myth-Busting? Confronting Six Common Perceptions about Unconditional Cash Transfers as a Poverty Reduction Strategy in Africa |
| title_sort |
myth-busting? confronting six common perceptions about unconditional cash transfers as a poverty reduction strategy in africa |
| publisher |
Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the World Bank |
| publishDate |
2020 |
| url |
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/33275 |
| _version_ |
1764478374412025856 |