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Efficiency, Legitimacy, and Impacts of Targeting Methods: Evidence from an Experiment in Niger

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  • Patrick Premand
  • Pascale Schnitzer

Abstract

The methods to select safety net beneficiaries are the subject of frequent debates. Targeting assessments usually focus on efficiency by documenting the pre-program profile of selected beneficiaries. This study provides a more comprehensive analysis of targeting performance through an experiment embedded in a national cash transfer program in Niger. Eligible villages were randomly assigned to have beneficiary households selected by community-based targeting (CBT), proxy-means testing (PMT), or a formula to identify the food-insecure (FCS). The study considers targeting legitimacy and the impact of targeting choice on program effectiveness based on data collected after program roll-out. PMT is more efficient in identifying households with lower consumption per capita. Nonbeneficiaries find formula-based methods (PMT and FCS) more legitimate than CBT. Manipulation and information imperfections affect CBT, which can explain why it is not the most legitimate. Program impacts on some welfare dimensions are larger among households selected by PMT than CBT.

Suggested Citation

  • Patrick Premand & Pascale Schnitzer, 2021. "Efficiency, Legitimacy, and Impacts of Targeting Methods: Evidence from an Experiment in Niger," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 35(4), pages 892-920.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:wbecrv:v:35:y:2021:i:4:p:892-920.
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    1. Quentin Stoeffler & Bradford Mills & Patrick Premand, 2020. "Poor Households’ Productive Investments of Cash Transfers: Quasi-experimental Evidence from Niger," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 29(1), pages 63-89.
    2. Martin Ravallion & Gaurav Datt, 1995. "Is Targeting Through a Work Requirement Efficient? Some Evidence for Rural India," Monash Economics Working Papers archive-41, Monash University, Department of Economics.
    3. Stoeffler, Quentin & Mills, Bradford & del Ninno, Carlo, 2016. "Reaching the Poor: Cash Transfer Program Targeting in Cameroon," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 244-263.
    4. Rema Hanna & Benjamin A. Olken, 2018. "Universal Basic Incomes versus Targeted Transfers: Anti-Poverty Programs in Developing Countries," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 32(4), pages 201-226, Fall.
    5. Vivi Alatas & Abhijit Banerjee & Rema Hanna & Benjamin A. Olken & Ririn Purnamasari & Matthew Wai-Poi, 2019. "Does Elite Capture Matter? Local Elites and Targeted Welfare Programs in Indonesia," AEA Papers and Proceedings, American Economic Association, vol. 109, pages 334-339, May.
    6. Pascale Schnitzer, 2019. "How to Target Households in Adaptive Social Protection Systems? Evidence from Humanitarian and Development Approaches in Niger," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 55(S1), pages 75-90, December.
    7. Olivia Bertelli, 2020. "Food Security Measures in Sub-Saharan Africa. A Validation of the LSMS-ISA Scale†," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 29(1), pages 90-120.
    8. Premand, Patrick & Barry, Oumar, 2022. "Behavioral change promotion, cash transfers and early childhood development: Experimental evidence from a government program in a low-income setting," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    9. Conning, Jonathan & Kevane, Michael, 2002. "Community-Based Targeting Mechanisms for Social Safety Nets: A Critical Review," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 30(3), pages 375-394, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Premand, Patrick & Stoeffler, Quentin, 2022. "Cash transfers, climatic shocks and resilience in the Sahel," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    2. Quentin Stoeffler & Francis Fontshi & Aimé Lungela, 2020. "Targeting in Practice: A Review of Existing Mechanisms for Beneficiary Selection in the Democratic Republic of Congo," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(5), pages 824-829, July.

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