Asset transfers and anti-poverty programs: Experimental evidence from Tanzania

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Baird, Sarah; Mcintosh, Craig; Ozler, Berk; Pape, Utz
• 署名单位: George Washington University; University of California System; University of California San Diego; The World Bank
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0304-3878
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2023.103182
• 发表日期: 2024
• 关键词: Business development; training; Cash transfers; social protection

摘要

We use a set of randomized experiments to examine the impact of a group business development program implemented by the Tanzanian government, along with a set of complementary training and cash transfer interventions targeted to vulnerable households in rural areas. In contrast with much of the recent literature, we find little effect of the business development program. While most enterprises remain operative three years after formation, even our highest estimates of effective wage rates suggest returns roughly equivalent to the opportunity cost of time for these households. Unconditional and unanticipated lump-sum cash transfers to randomly selected members of these groups induce all members to invest more in the enterprise, with seemingly little to no return on these marginal investments. Our results emphasize the importance of profitability as the key motivation for asset transfer-based social protection programs.