The short-lived effects of unconditional cash transfers to refugees

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Altindag, Onur; O'Connell, Stephen D.
• 署名单位: Bentley University; Emory University; IZA Institute Labor Economics
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0304-3878
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2022.102942
• 发表日期: 2023
• 关键词: Unconditional cash transfers; Cash-based interventions; Food vouchers; Forced displacement; HUMANITARIAN AID; refugees; CHILDREN; Lebanon

摘要

We study two year-long unconditional cash-based assistance programs for Syrian refugees in Lebanon, and show that they improve consumption, child well-being, food security, and reduce livelihood coping. Despite high transfer values, we find no evidence of lasting effects at six months after either program ends. Households spend transfers on basic needs and take children out of work and re-enroll them in school. Beneficiaries increase cash savings and their stock of durable goods, but liquidate and spend these assets during or soon after the beneficiary period. The results are similar for longer assistance periods and across transfer modalities.