Intra-Household Resource Allocation and Targeted Transfers
Many welfare programs around the world target women with cash transfers rather than men. Examples are the many conditional cash transfer schemes around the world. The main arguments used for such targeting is that transfers to women/mothers strengthen the position of mothers as well as children, in the society, and thus such targeting promotes child development. But despite the large flows of money targeting women using these arguments, we have little empirical evidence on the effect of such targeting.
PROJECT MANAGER: INGVILD ALMÅS
PROJECT DURATION: 2021-2026
PROJECT DETAILS:
The project is divided into three work packages. In the first work package, WP1: Validation of allocation instrument, we will develop and validate the allocation instrument that will be used to test the maternal argument. We will validate the instrument in laboratory experiments in four countries (Norway, Chile, India, and Tanzania). In the second work package, WP2: Randomized controlled trial, we will implement an unconditional cash transfer in Tanzania to (i) further validate the allocation instrument in the field, (ii) develop and validate instruments for household decision making that can be used to test the empowerment argument, (iii) using the validated instruments to study the validity of the maternal and empowerment arguments directly in the field, (iv) investigate mechanisms behind allocation decisions, and (v) study other potential consequences of targeted transfers such as female labor supply and domestic violence. Finally, in the third work package, WP3: Cross-cultural study, we will use the allocation instrument validated in WP1 and WP2, to investigate the maternal argument in 10 countries, representing each income decile in the world income distribution and spread out geographically across the world. We will also measure household decision making in these 10 countries using the newly validated household decision making instruments from WP2.
CORE RESEARCH TEAM
PAMELA JERVISAssistant professor |