Cash Transfers and Health : Evidence from Tanzania

Evans, David K. ; Holtemeyer, Brian ; Kosec, Katrina

World Bank, Washington, DC

关键词: cash transfers;    health;    government policy;    health insurance;   

DOI  :  10.1596/1813-9450-7882
RP-ID  :  WPS7882

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

How do conditional cash transfers impacthealth-related outcomes? This paper examines the 2010randomized introduction of a program in Tanzania and findsnuanced impacts. An initial surge in clinic visits after 1.5years -- due to more visits by those already complying withprogram health conditions and by non-compliers --disappeared after 2.5 years, largely due to compliersreducing above-minimal visits. The study finds significantincreases in take-up of health insurance and the likelihoodof seeking treatment when ill. Health improvements wereconcentrated among children ages 0–5 years rather than theelderly, and took time to materialize; the study finds noimprovements after 1.5 years, but 0.76 fewer sick days permonth after 2.5 years, suggesting the importance of lookingbeyond short-term impacts. Reductions in sick days werelargest in villages with more baseline health workers percapita, consistent with improvements being sensitive tocapacity constraints. These results are robust toadjustments for multiple hypothesis testing.