Evidence from a Randomized Evaluation of the Household Welfare Impacts of Conditional and Unconditional Cash Transfers Given to Mothers or Fathers

Akresh, Richard ; de Walque, Damien ; Kazianga, Harounan

World Bank, Washington, DC

关键词: EMPLOYMENT;    SAFETY NET PROGRAMS;    HOUSEHOLD SIZE;    HOUSEHOLD SURVEY;    RIGHTS;   

DOI  :  10.1596/1813-9450-7730
RP-ID  :  WPS7730

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

This study conducted a randomizedcontrol trial in rural Burkina Faso to estimate the impactof alternative cash transfer delivery mechanisms oneducation, health, and household welfare outcomes. Thetwo-year pilot program randomly distributed cash transfersthat were either conditional or unconditional and were givento either mothers or fathers. Conditionality was linked toolder children enrolling in school and attending regularlyand younger children receiving preventive health check-ups.Compared with the control group, cash transfers improvechildren's education and health and householdsocioeconomic conditions. For school enrollment and mostchild health outcomes, conditional cash transfers outperformunconditional cash transfers. Giving cash to mothers doesnot lead to significantly better child health or educationoutcomes, and there is evidence that money given to fathersimproves young children's health, particularly duringyears of poor rainfall. Cash transfers to fathers also yieldrelatively more household investment in livestock, cashcrops, and improved housing.