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Cash Transfers, Microentrepreneurial Activity, and Child Work: Evidence from Malawi and Zambia

Author

Listed:
  • Jacobus de Hoop
  • Valeria Groppo
  • Sudhanshu Handa

Abstract

Cash transfer programs are rapidly becoming a key component of the social safety net of many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. The primary aim of these programs is to help households improve their food security and to smooth consumption during periods of economic duress. However, beneficiary households have also been shown to use these programs to expand their microentrepreneurial activities. Cluster-randomized trials carried out during the rollout of large-scale programs in Malawi and Zambia show that children may increase their work in the household enterprise through such programs. Both programs increased forms of work that may be detrimental to children, such as activities that expose children to hazards in Malawi and excessive working hours in Zambia. However, both programs also induced positive changes in other child well-being domains, such as school attendance and material well-being, leading to a mixed and inconclusive picture of the implications of these programs for children.

Suggested Citation

  • Jacobus de Hoop & Valeria Groppo & Sudhanshu Handa, 0. "Cash Transfers, Microentrepreneurial Activity, and Child Work: Evidence from Malawi and Zambia," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 34(3), pages 670-697.
  • Handle: RePEc:oup:wbecrv:v:34:y::i:3:p:670-697.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/wber/lhz004
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Jules Gazeaud & Claire Ricard, 2021. "Conditional cash transfers and the learning crisis: evidence from Tayssir scale-up in Morocco," NOVAFRICA Working Paper Series wp2102, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Nova School of Business and Economics, NOVAFRICA.
    2. Altaf Hussain & Susanne Schech, 2021. "Cash Transfer Programmes in Pakistan through a Child Well-Being Lens," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-14, September.
    3. Sakketa, Tekalign G. & Kornher, Lukas, 2021. "Unintended Consequences or a Glimmer of Hope? Comparative Impact Analysis of Cash Transfers and Index Insurance on Pastoralists’ Labor Allocation Decisions," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315113, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    4. Murat Guray Kirdar & Ismet Koc & Meltem Dayıoglu, 2021. "School Integration of Refugee Children: Evidence from the Largest Refugee Group in any Country," Koç University-TUSIAD Economic Research Forum Working Papers 2116, Koc University-TUSIAD Economic Research Forum.
    5. Sudhanshu Handa & Frank Otchere & Paul Sirma & the Evaluation Study Team, 2022. "More evidence on the impact of government social protection in sub‐Saharan Africa: Ghana, Malawi, and Zimbabwe," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 40(3), May.
    6. Zietz, Susannah & de Hoop, Jacobus & Handa, Sudhanshu, 2018. "The role of productive activities in the lives of adolescents: Photovoice evidence from Malawi," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 246-255.
    7. Angeles, Gustavo & de Hoop, Jacobus & Handa, Sudhanshu & Kilburn, Kelly & Milazzo, Annamaria & Peterman, Amber, 2019. "Government of Malawi's unconditional cash transfer improves youth mental health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 225(C), pages 108-119.
    8. Armando Barrientos & Daniele Malerba, 2020. "Social assistance and inclusive growth," International Social Security Review, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 73(3), pages 33-53, July.

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