Cash transfers and labor supply: Evidence from a large-scale program in Iran

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Salehi-Isfahani, Djavad; Mostafavi-Dehzooei, Mohammad H.
• 署名单位: Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University; Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE); Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0304-3878
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2018.08.005
• 发表日期: 2018
• 页码: 349-367
• 关键词: cash transfers; labor supply; Iran; Impact evaluation

摘要

This paper examines the impact of a national cash transfer program on labor supply in Iran. In 2011, Iran started monthly deposits of cash into individual accounts covering more than 70 million people and amounting to 28% of the median per capita household income. The payments were compensation for the sudden removal of hefty energy subsidies. The program has been heavily criticized for its disincentive for work, especially for the poor. We use panel data to study the causal effect of the transfers on labor supply using exogenous variation in the time households first started receiving transfers and in the intensity of treatment, which we define as the share of net transfers from the program in total per capita household expenditures. We find no evidence that cash transfers reduced labor supply, in terms of hours worked or labor force participation. To the contrary, we find positive effects on the labor supply of women and self-employed men.