Direct and Indirect Effects of Malawi’s Public Works Program on Food Security

Beegle, Kathleen ; Galasso, Emanuela ; Goldberg, Jessica

World Bank, Washington, DC

关键词: PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION;    HOUSEHOLD SIZE;    HOUSEHOLD SURVEY;    HONEY;    SORGHUM;   

DOI  :  10.1596/1813-9450-7505
RP-ID  :  WPS7505

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

Labor-intensive public works programsare important social protection tools in low-incomesettings, intended to supplement income of poor householdsand improve public infrastructure. In this evaluation of theMalawi Social Action Fund, an at-scale, government-operatedprogram, across- and within-village randomization is used toestimate effects on food security and use of fertilizer.There is no evidence that the program improves foodsecurity, and some negative spillovers to untreatedhouseholds. These disappointing results hold even undermodifications to the design of the program to offer workduring the lean rather than harvest season or increase thefrequency of payments.