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Consumption Smoothing and Frequency of Benefit Payments of Cash Transfer Programs

Author

Listed:
  • Emma Aguila
  • Arie Kapteyn
  • Francisco Perez-Arce

Abstract

We analyze two noncontributory Mexican pension programs for the elderly. Both paid similar amounts, but one paid monthly while the other paid every two months. The Life Cycle Hypothesis suggests frequency of benefits payments should not affect consumption smoothing, but we find the monthly program was more effective in smoothing food expenditure. It also increased doctor visits and reduced the incidence of hunger spells. Under the bimonthly program, expenditures on food significantly decline between paychecks but ownership of durable goods increased. This suggests the importance of payment frequency in social programs.

Suggested Citation

  • Emma Aguila & Arie Kapteyn & Francisco Perez-Arce, 2017. "Consumption Smoothing and Frequency of Benefit Payments of Cash Transfer Programs," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 107(5), pages 430-435, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aecrev:v:107:y:2017:i:5:p:430-35
    Note: DOI: 10.1257/aer.p20171147
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Catalina Amuedo‐Dorantes & Laura Juarez & Jorge Alonso, 2019. "The Effect Of Noncontributory Pensions On Saving In Mexico," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 57(2), pages 931-952, April.
    2. Diego Bodas & Juan Ramon Garcia & Juan Murillo & Matias Pacce & Tomasa Rodrigo & Juan de Dios Romero & Pep Ruiz & Camilo Ulloa & Heribert Valero, 2018. "Measuring Retail Trade Using Card Transactional Data," Working Papers 18/03, BBVA Bank, Economic Research Department.
    3. Laura Juarez & Tobias Pfutze, 2020. "Can non-contributory pensions decrease food vulnerability? The case of Mexico," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 59(4), pages 1865-1882, October.
    4. Zhang, Guangli, 2021. "The Effect of Unemployment Benefit Pay Frequency on UI Claimants' Job Search Behaviors," Working Papers 21-3, Sinquefield Center for Applied Economic Research, Saint Louis University.
    5. García, Juan R. & Pacce, Matías & Rodrigo, Tomasa & Ruiz de Aguirre, Pep & Ulloa, Camilo A., 2021. "Measuring and forecasting retail trade in real time using card transactional data," International Journal of Forecasting, Elsevier, vol. 37(3), pages 1235-1246.
    6. Saeed, Muhammad Kashif & Hayat, Muhammad Azmat, 2020. "The Impact of Social Cash Transfers on Poverty in Pakistan-A Case Study of Benazir Income Support Programme," MPRA Paper 99805, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Sam Sims, 2021. "The impact of timing of benefit payments on children's outcomes," CEPEO Briefing Note Series 11, UCL Centre for Education Policy and Equalising Opportunities, revised Feb 2021.
    8. Robin Boadway & Jean‐Denis Garon & Louis Perrault, 2019. "Optimal mixed taxation, credit constraints, and the timing of income tax reporting," Journal of Public Economic Theory, Association for Public Economic Theory, vol. 21(4), pages 708-737, August.
    9. Emma Aguila & Mariana López-Ortega & Luis Miguel Gutiérrez Robledo, 2018. "Non-contributory pension programs and frailty of older adults: Evidence from Mexico," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(11), pages 1-19, November.
    10. Brune, Lasse & Kerwin, Jason T., 2019. "Income timing and liquidity constraints: Evidence from a randomized field experiment," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 294-308.
    11. Kota Ogasawara, 2023. "Consumption Smoothing in Metropolis: Evidence from the Working-class Households in Prewar Tokyo," Papers 2311.14320, arXiv.org, revised Feb 2024.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs

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