Publication: Cash Transfer Size: How Much Is Enough?
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2024-06-14
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2024-06-14
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As a part of “Evidence at Your Fingertips Series”, this note summarizes the impacts of cash transfers on a range of outcomes, depending on the size (adequacy, benefit level or amount) of transfer values. The review is largely based on the impact evaluations published in the past decade, finding that high(er)-value cash transfers typically produce greater impacts. However, low(er)-value transfers can also achieve measurable impacts, particularly when accompanying by behavior change communication. Provided in lumpsum, high-value transfers may allow beneficiary households to invest or save more compared to smaller transfers provided over time in a frequent manner. While cash transfers show positive impacts in reducing gender related violence, high-value transfers can have the potential to increase physical abuse in certain demographic tiers more than less-conspicuous low-value transfers. Although the size is a key parameter, it is important to consider the confluence with other factors including target population, duration, frequency, timing, and payment modalities when designing and implementing a program.
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“World Bank; Innovations for Poverty Action. 2024. Cash Transfer Size: How Much Is Enough?. Social Protection and Jobs Policy and Technical Note; No.31; Evidence at Your Fingertips Series. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/41713 License: CC BY-NC 3.0 IGO.”
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