Targeting of Transfers in Developing Countries : Review of Lessons and Experience
Drawing on a database of more than one hundred anti-poverty interventions in 47 countries, this report provides a general review of experiences with methods used to target interventions in transition and developing countries. Written for policymakers and program managers in developing countries, in donor agencies, and in nongovernmental organizations who have responsibility for designing interventions that reach the poor, it conveys what targeting options are available, what results can be expected as well as information that will assist in choosing among them and in their implementation. Key messages are: 1) While targeting "works" - the median program transfers 25 percent more to the poor than would a universal allocation - targeting performance around the world is highly variable. 2) Means testing, geographic targeting, and self-selection based on a work requirement are the most robustly progressive methods. Proxy means testing, community-based selection of individuals and demographic targeting to children show good results on average, but with considerable variation. Demographic targeting to the elderly, community bidding, and self-selection based on consumption show limited potential for good targeting. 3) There is no single preferred method for all types of programs or all country contexts. Successful targeting depends critically on how a method is implemented.
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Language: | English en_US |
| Published: |
Washington, DC: World Bank
2004
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| Subjects: | TARGETED TRANSFERS, TARGETED TRANSFER PROGRAMS, TARGETING MECHANISMS, DESCRIPTIVE PROJECT ANALYSIS, REGRESSION ANALYSIS, MEANS TESTING, TRANSFER PROGRAMS, GEOGRAPHICAL DEMOGRAPHICS, SELF TARGETING, SELF TARGETING SAFETY NETS, POVERTY ALLEVIATION MECHANISMS, |
| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2004/01/5176486/targeting-transfers-developing-countries-review-lessons-experience https://hdl.handle.net/10986/14902 |
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| Summary: | Drawing on a database of more than one
hundred anti-poverty interventions in 47 countries, this
report provides a general review of experiences with methods
used to target interventions in transition and developing
countries. Written for policymakers and program managers in
developing countries, in donor agencies, and in
nongovernmental organizations who have responsibility for
designing interventions that reach the poor, it conveys what
targeting options are available, what results can be
expected as well as information that will assist in choosing
among them and in their implementation. Key messages are: 1)
While targeting "works" - the median program
transfers 25 percent more to the poor than would a universal
allocation - targeting performance around the world is
highly variable. 2) Means testing, geographic targeting, and
self-selection based on a work requirement are the most
robustly progressive methods. Proxy means testing,
community-based selection of individuals and demographic
targeting to children show good results on average, but with
considerable variation. Demographic targeting to the
elderly, community bidding, and self-selection based on
consumption show limited potential for good targeting. 3)
There is no single preferred method for all types of
programs or all country contexts. Successful targeting
depends critically on how a method is implemented. |
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