The Revival of the "Cash versus Food" Debate

The longstanding “cash versus food” debate has received renewed attention in both research and practice. This paper reviews key issues shaping the debate and presents new evidence from randomized and quasi-experimental evaluations that deliberately compare cash and in-kind food transfers in ten developing counties. Findings show that relative effectiveness cannot be generalized: although some differences emerge in terms of food consumption and dietary diversity, average impacts tend to depend on context, specific objectives, and their measurement. Costs for cash transfers and vouchers tend to be significantly lower relative to in-kind food. Yet the consistency and robustness of methods for efficiency analyses varies greatly.

Bibliographic Details

Main Author:	Gentilini, Ugo
Format:	Working Paper biblioteca
Language:	English en_US
Published:	World Bank, Washington, DC 2016-02
Subjects:	CHILD HEALTH, RATIONS, SAFETY NET PROGRAMS, RISKS, HOUSEHOLD SIZE, POVERTY LINE, FOOD RATION, FOOD COMMODITIES, ECONOMIC GROWTH, TRANSFERS IN CASH, INCOME TRANSFER, RED BEANS, WHEAT FLOUR, FOOD CONSUMPTION, BREAD, INCOME, SOCIAL PENSIONS, SOCIAL TRANSFERS, LEGUMES, ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, RESOURCE ALLOCATION, WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME, POLITICAL ECONOMY, CASSAVA, FOOD POLICY, CONDITIONAL TRANSFER, FOOD STAMPS, WELFARE, DAIRY, PASTA, IFPRI, AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS, ULTRA POOR, CASH TRANSFER, HEALTH PROGRAM, BENEFICIARIES, MEASURES, CHILD GROWTH, SAFETY NETS, POVERTY REDUCTION, SUPERMARKET, DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, MAIZE, FOOD TRANSFER, VULNERABLE GROUP, MILK POWDER, SAVINGS, CEREALS, BENEFICIARY, FOOD PROVISION, SCHOOL MEALS, LABELING, GLOBAL FOOD PRODUCTION, PUBLIC ACTION, HEALTH CENTERS, LOGISTICS, CASH INTERVENTIONS, PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, TRANSFERS, NATURAL DISASTERS, PALM OIL, FOOD PRODUCERS, HOUSEHOLD INCOME, FRUITS, VEGETABLES, BARS, FOOD FORTIFICATION, HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS, SOCIAL TRANSFER, MATERNAL-CHILD HEALTH, FOOD EXPENDITURES, SOCIAL SECURITY, SOCIAL PROTECTION, PROTECTION SYSTEMS, SOCIAL CONTRACT, CHOCOLATE, FAMINE, GRAINS, CASH TRANSFERS, FOOD AID, SUBSIDIES, ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, FOOD PRODUCTION, NUTRITION TRAINING, HOME RATION, TRANSFER PROGRAM, HOUSEHOLD LEVEL, STAPLE FOODS, SAFETY NET TRANSFERS, SOCIAL SAFETY NETS, INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL SECURITY, SOCIAL SPENDING, FOOD SECURITY, LEAN SEASON, MAINTENANCE PROGRAM, DROUGHT, HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY, SCHOOL FEES, PROVISION OF GOODS, MARKET PRICES, PROVISION” OF GOODS, PENSIONS, FOOD RATIONS, CASH PAYMENTS, HOME RATIONS, FOOD ASSISTANCE, FOOD PROGRAMS, PURCHASING POWER, TUBERS, DRIED FISH, PEANUTS, FRUIT, SAFETY NET, TRANSFER AMOUNTS, AGRICULTURE, HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE, DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM, FOOD SHORTAGE, MALNUTRITION, CHILD NUTRITION, VOUCHERS, FOOD RELIEF, TRANSFER AMOUNT, WFP, TRANSACTION COSTS, EGGS, PUBLIC WORKS, FOOD TRANSFERS, CASH ASSISTANCE, FOOD, TRANSFER PROGRAMS, AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES, FOOD PROGRAMMES, NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS, EMERGENCY FOOD, SCHOOL FEEDING, REFUGEE CAMPS, FOOD INSECURITY, FOOD STAMP, TARGETING, FOOD DISTRIBUTION, FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, POTATOES, NUTRITION PROGRAMS, EDUCATION PROGRAMS, CORN, SUPERMARKETS, HUMAN RESOURCES, POVERTY, FOOD SUPPLY, MEAT, FEEDING PROGRAMS, CONDITIONAL CASH, MEATS, HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION, MEAL, WHEAT, SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMS, FOOD AVAILABILITY, LABOR SUPPLY, WORKS PROGRAM, RISK MANAGEMENT, RICE, CASH TRANSFER PROGRAMS, HOUSEHOLD WELFARE, SHARE OF TRANSFERS, POOR, FOOD VOUCHERS, FOOD PRICES, STARCH, TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT, FLOUR, FOODS, PULSES, NUTRITION ASSISTANCE, SUGAR,
Online Access:	http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2016/02/25994405/revival-cash-versus-food-debate-new-evidence-old-quandary https://hdl.handle.net/10986/23922
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