Comparing Cash and Voucher Transfers in a Humanitarian Context : Evidence from the Democratic Republic of Congo

Despite recent calls in support of cash transfers, there is little rigorous evidence of the relative impacts of cash versus in-kind transfers, especially in humanitarian contexts, where a majority of such programs take place. This paper uses data from a randomized experiment in the Democratic Republic of Congo to assess the relative impacts and costs of equivalently valued cash and voucher transfers. The voucher program distorted households’ purchases along both the extensive and intensive margin as compared with unconstrained cash households. Yet there were no differences in food consumption or other measures of well-being, in part due to the fact that voucher households were able to resell part of what they purchased. As there were no significant benefits to vouchers, cash transfers were the more cost effective modality for both the implementing agency and program recipients in this context.

Bibliographic Details

Main Author:	Aker, Jenny C.
Format:	Working Paper biblioteca
Language:	English en_US
Published:	World Bank, Washington, DC 2015-10
Subjects:	RISKS, HOUSEHOLD SIZE, HOUSEHOLD SURVEY, VILLAGES, STANDARD ERROR, FOOD CONSUMPTION, BREAD, INCOME, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, COUNTERFACTUAL, INCOME ON FOOD, SERVICES, INCOME TRANSFERS, WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME, CASSAVA, HOUSING, POLITICAL ECONOMY, DEATH, FOOD POLICY, FOOD STAMPS, NEIGHBORHOOD, HEALTH, IFPRI, PROJECTS, PROJECT, NEIGHBORHOODS, COLLECTION ACTIVITIES, RURAL POPULATION, CONFLICT, MEASURES, HOUSEHOLD DEMOGRAPHICS, SAFETY NETS, INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE, POVERTY REDUCTION, MAIZE, LIVESTOCK OWNERSHIP, YAMS, SAVINGS, TRAINING, DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS, FOOD POLICY RESEARCH, HOUSEHOLD HEAD, INTERVENTION, INCOME SHOCK, POVERTY PROGRAMS, TRANSFERS, STANDARD ERRORS, PALM OIL, MARKETS, HOUSEHOLD INCOME, FRUITS, VEGETABLES, ANTI-POVERTY, HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS, FOOD EXPENDITURES, SOCIAL SECURITY, POLITICAL FEASIBILITY, GRAINS, FOOD PRODUCTS, CASH TRANSFERS, FOOD AID, FOOD ITEMS, DESIGN, FOOD AID PROGRAMS, NUTRITIONAL STATUS, SOCIAL SAFETY NETS, FOOD SECURITY, HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY, FAIRS, BASIC NEEDS, PARTICIPATION, GENDER, INCOME-GENERATING ACTIVITIES, TUBERS, DRIED FISH, HYGIENE, PEANUTS, RURAL POVERTY, HOUSEHOLD, TRANSFER AMOUNTS, AGRICULTURE, MALNUTRITION, RURAL, NUTRITION, WFP, TRANSACTION COSTS, EGGS, MARKET, FOOD TRANSFERS, FOOD, PORK, TRANSFER PROGRAMS, FOOD PROGRAMMES, CONDIMENTS, IDIOSYNCRATIC SHOCKS, AGRICULTURAL INPUTS, SCHOOL FEEDING, TARGETING, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, CONSUMPTION SMOOTHING, WAR, CORN, SUPERMARKETS, HOUSEHOLDS, EQUALITY, RURAL AREAS, POVERTY, MEAT, HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION, RICE, CASH TRANSFER PROGRAMS, INTERVENTIONS, COMMUNITY, POOR, STATISTICAL SIGNIFICANCE, FOOD PRICES, SAFETY, FOODS, FLOUR, FEMALE, SERVICE, GAUGE, RURAL POVERTY REDUCTION, POTATO, DISPLACED PERSONS, POVERTY ALLEVIATION, EXTREME VULNERABILITY, SUGAR,
Online Access:	http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2015/10/25230975/comparing-cash-voucher-transfers-humanitarian-context-evidence-democratic-republic-congo http://hdl.handle.net/10986/22889
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