Social Assistance and Birth Outcomes: Evidence from the Uruguayan PANES
This paper estimates the impact of a large temporary poverty relief program, Uruguay's PANES on birth outcomes. Using program administrative data and longitudinal vital statistics, a significant and precisely estimated reduction in the fraction of low-weight newborns (less than 2,500 g. ) on the order of 10 to 20 percent was found to be a result of treatment. The cash (and in-kind) transfer components of the program were considered to drive the results, suggesting that unrestricted social assistance has the potential to positively affect birth outcomes, most likely through improved nutrition. Assuming that all the effect of the program was through the transfer, an elasticity of low birthweight with respect to welfare transfers on the order of around 0. 30 can be inferred.
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| Format: | Working Papers biblioteca |
| Language: | English |
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Inter-American Development Bank
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| Subjects: | Social Development, Nutrition, Youth and Children, Poverty, I18 - Government Policy • Regulation • Public Health, I32 - Measurement and Analysis of Poverty, I38 - Government Policy • Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs, J13 - Fertility • Family Planning • Child Care • Children • Youth, IDB-WP-244, Poverty relief program, Social assistance, Uruguay, Birth outcomes, Low birthweight, Cash transfer program, Nutrition, |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.18235/0011207 https://publications.iadb.org/en/social-assistance-and-birth-outcomes-evidence-uruguayan-panes |
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