Child Labor under Cash and In-Kind Transfers. (19th May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tagliati, Federico
• Is Part Of: World Bank economic review. Volume 36:Number 3(2022)
• Page Start: 709
• Page End: 733
• Publication Date: 2022-05-19
• Subjects: cash transfers -- in-kind transfers -- child labor -- schooling; Economic development -- Periodicals; Developing countries -- Economic conditions -- Periodicals; Developing countries -- Economic policy -- Periodicals; 330.91724
• DOI: 10.1093/wber/lhac006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0258-6770

Abstract

Abstract: This paper studies the effects of cash versus in-kind transfers on the time allocation of children exploiting the randomized rollout of a program which transferred either cash or a basket of food to poor households in Mexico. Children in cash-recipient households experience a significantly larger decrease in paid employment and hours of work, and an increase in schooling, as compared to children in in-kind-recipient households. Both transfers are given to a female member of the household to enhance women's participation in household decision-making. The difference between the cash and in-kind impacts on child time allocation is entirely driven by households presenting characteristics associated with lower female decision-making power. Thus, differences in child employment responses across transfer modalities are likely related to women-targeted transfers having larger effects on female empowerment when provided in cash.