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The effect of welfare payments on work: Regression discontinuity evidence from Ecuador

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  • Bosch, Mariano
  • Schady, Norbert

Abstract

We study the impact of welfare payments in Ecuador on the probability that adults work, and on whether they are employed in the formal or informal sectors. Our identification strategy exploits the fact that welfare was limited to individuals below a cutoff value on a household “poverty score”. We find no evidence that transfers discouraged work. However, among women, welfare payments led to reductions in social security contributions (which are mandated for salaried workers), although the magnitude of these effects is small.

Suggested Citation

  • Bosch, Mariano & Schady, Norbert, 2019. "The effect of welfare payments on work: Regression discontinuity evidence from Ecuador," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 17-27.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:deveco:v:139:y:2019:i:c:p:17-27
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2019.01.008
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    2. Bryan, Gharad & Chowdhury, Shyamal & Mobarak, Ahmed Mushfiq & Morten, Melanie & Smits, Joeri, 2021. "Encouragement and Distortionary Effects of Conditional Cash Transfers," IZA Discussion Papers 14326, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Vera-Cossio, Diego A. & Hoffmann, Bridget & Pecha, Camilo & Gallego, Jorge & Stampini, Marco & Vargas, David & Medina, María Paula & Álvarez, Esteban, 2023. "Re-thinking Social Protection: From Poverty Alleviation to Building Resilience in Middle-Income Households," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 12925, Inter-American Development Bank.
    4. Bergolo, M. & Cruces, G., 2021. "The anatomy of behavioral responses to social assistance when informal employment is high," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    5. María Gabriela Palacio Ludeña, 2021. "Falling through the Cracks: Digital Infrastructures of Social Protection in Ecuador," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 52(4), pages 805-828, July.
    6. Liepmann, Hannah & Pignatti, Clemente, 2024. "Welfare effects of unemployment benefits when informality is high," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    7. Antonia Asenjo & Verónica Escudero & Hannah Liepmann, 2024. "Why Should we Integrate Income and Employment Support? A Conceptual and Empirical Investigation," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 60(1), pages 1-29, January.
    8. Daniel Sánchez-Piñol Yulee, 2023. "Show Me the Money! The Effects of a Conditional Cash-Transfer Program on the Labor Market in Ecuador," Journal of Private Enterprise, The Association of Private Enterprise Education, vol. 38(Winter 20), pages 1-28.
    9. Xinru Han & Yongfu Chen & Xiudong Wang, 2022. "Impacts of China’s bioethanol policy on the global maize market: a partial equilibrium analysis to 2030," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 14(1), pages 147-163, February.
    10. Ridho Al Izzati & Daniel Suryadarma & Asep Suryahadi, "undated". "The Behavioral Effects of Unconditional Cash Transfers: Evidence from Indonesia," Working Papers 2376, Publications Department.
    11. Pfutze, Tobias, 2019. "Should program graduation be better targeted? The other schooling outcomes of Mexico’s Oportunidades," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 1-1.
    12. Jara, H. Xavier & Palacio Ludeña, María Gabriela, 2024. "Rethinking social assistance amid the COVID-19 pandemic: guaranteeing the right to income security in Ecuador," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 121120, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    13. Oscar Becerra, 2023. "Effects of future pension benefits on pre‐retirement labor supply: Evidence from Chile," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(1), pages 198-219, February.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Welfare; Work; Formality;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H55 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Social Security and Public Pensions
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply

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