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Do Workfare Programs Live Up to Their Promises? Experimental Evidence from Côte d'Ivoire

Author

Listed:
  • Marianne Bertrand
  • Bruno Crépon
  • Alicia Marguerie
  • Patrick Premand

Abstract

We study contemporaneous and post-program impacts of a public works program which provides urban youth seven months of employment at the formal minimum wage with complementary training in entrepreneurship or job search. During the program, the employment rate only increases slightly, but we find a shift toward wage jobs, higher earnings and savings, as well as positive changes in work habits, behaviors, and well-being. After the program, we find no lasting impact on employment or behaviors, with only limited gains in earnings stemming from independent activities. Using machine learning to analyze heterogeneity, we show that alternative targeting approaches can substantially improve welfare.

Suggested Citation

  • Marianne Bertrand & Bruno Crépon & Alicia Marguerie & Patrick Premand, 2026. "Do Workfare Programs Live Up to Their Promises? Experimental Evidence from Côte d'Ivoire," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 18(4), pages 112-153, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aejapp:v:18:y:2026:i:4:p:112-53
    DOI: 10.1257/app.20240586
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C45 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods: Special Topics - - - Neural Networks and Related Topics
    • G51 - Financial Economics - - Household Finance - - - Household Savings, Borrowing, Debt, and Wealth
    • H53 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Welfare Programs
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J64 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Unemployment: Models, Duration, Incidence, and Job Search
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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