The welfare effects of India's rural employment guarantee

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Klonner, Stefan; Oldiges, Christian
• 署名单位: Ruprecht Karls University Heidelberg; University of Oxford
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0304-3878
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2022.102848
• 发表日期: 2022
• 关键词: Public works; Employment program; Social welfare programs; poverty alleviation; Safety net; labor markets; poverty; Schooling; child labor; INDIA

摘要

We assess the welfare effects of India's workfare program NREGA using a novel, almost sharp regression discontinuity design. We find large seasonal consumption increases in states implementing the program intensely, which are a multiple of the direct income gains. We also find increases in adolescents' schooling. Our results imply substantial beneficial indirect effects of this large welfare program. We conclude that public employment programs hold significant potential for reducing poverty and insuring households against various adverse implications of seasonal income shortfalls - when properly implemented.