Direct and Indirect Effects of Malawi’s Public Works Program on Food Security

Labor-intensive public works programs are important social protection tools in low-income settings, intended to supplement income of poor households and improve public infrastructure. In this evaluation of the Malawi Social Action Fund, an at-scale, government-operated program, across- and within-village randomization is used to estimate effects on food security and use of fertilizer. There is no evidence that the program improves food security, and some negative spillovers to untreated households. These disappointing results hold even under modifications to the design of the program to offer work during the lean rather than harvest season or increase the frequency of payments.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Galasso, Emanuela, Beegle, Kathleen, Goldberg, Jessica
Format:	Working Paper biblioteca
Language:	English en_US
Published:	World Bank, Washington, DC 2015-12
Subjects:	PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION, HOUSEHOLD SIZE, HOUSEHOLD SURVEY, HONEY, SORGHUM, FOOD CONSUMPTION, BREAD, INCOME, MILK, POVERTY ESTIMATES, POVERTY RATES, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, LOWER VALUES, REGIONAL LEVEL, CONSUMPTION DATA, LUMP-SUM, FOOD POLICY, FAMILY MEMBERS, PASTA, POORER HOUSEHOLDS, FOOD CONSUMPTION DATA, SOCIAL PROGRAMS, NATIONAL LEVEL, CAPITA CONSUMPTION, CALORIC INTAKE, MEASURES, SAFETY NETS, REGION, FERTILIZER PURCHASES, HOUSEHOLD- LEVEL, MAIZE, STANDARD DEVIATION, CASH TRANSFER SCHEME, TRANSFER SCHEME, SAVINGS, CEREALS, CROWDING OUT, DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS, DATES, GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS, POLITICAL CONSTRAINTS, TRANSFERS, STANDARD ERRORS, POOR AREAS, FRUITS, DIETARY DIVERSITY, VEGETABLES, NUTS, SMALL NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS, REGIONAL BREAKDOWN, FOOD EXPENDITURES, SOCIAL PROTECTION, PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMS, PRICE SUBSIDIES, RISK SHARING, GRAINS, CASH TRANSFERS, PLANTING TIME, HOUSEHOLD HEADS, REGIONAL VARIATION, MARKET PRICE, CASH-FOR-WORK, HOUSEHOLD LEVEL, CONSUMPTION, SOCIAL SAFETY NETS, EMPLOYMENT GUARANTEE SCHEME, DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH GROUP, FOOD SECURITY, SPICES, CASH TRANSFER PROGRAM, FATS, INCOME SHOCKS, FOOD ASSISTANCE, TUBERS, DELTA METHOD, GEOGRAPHIC REGION, SAFETY NET, FOOD EXPENDITURE, AGRICULTURE, GEORGIA, PLANTING SEASON, CASH CROP, FERTILIZER APPLICATION, RURAL, FERTILIZER USE, NUTRITION, WFP, TRANSACTION COSTS, REGIONAL TARGETING, EGGS, PUBLIC WORKS, HOUSEHOLD BUDGET, HIGHER INCIDENCE OF POVERTY, RURAL EMPLOYMENT, FOOD, TRANSFER PROGRAMS, CONDIMENTS, AGRICULTURAL INPUTS, SUGAR PRODUCTS, FOOD INSECURITY, TARGETING, REGIONAL FOOD, CONSUMPTION SMOOTHING, COPING STRATEGY, NUTRITION PROGRAMS, IRRIGATION PROJECTS, REGIONS, AGRICULTURAL SEASON, VILLAGE LEVEL, SUGARS, IRRIGATION, LACK OF KNOWLEDGE, HOUSEHOLDS, DAILY WAGE, POVERTY, MEAT, INCIDENCE OF POVERTY, HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION, MEAL, FOOD AVAILABILITY, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY, POOR, FOODS, PULSES, NEGATIVE EXTERNALITIES, CENTRAL REGION, LOW WAGES, CENTRAL REGIONS, INEQUALITY, SUGAR, HOUSEHOLD-LEVEL, POOR HOUSEHOLDS,
Online Access:	http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2015/12/25513895/direct-indirect-effects-malawi’s-public-works-program-food-security https://hdl.handle.net/10986/23466
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