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Social Welfare Portability and Migration: Evidence from India's Public Distribution System

Author

Listed:
  • Travis Baseler
  • Ambar Narayan
  • Odyssia Ng
  • Sutirtha Sinha Roy

Abstract

This paper studies a new program designed to make food entitlements portable throughout India. We first characterize the state of food entitlement portability using mystery shoppers and surveys of migrants and distributors. We then inform households about the program—and barriers to using it—through a cluster randomized controlled trial. Treatment impacts on beliefs about entitlement portability were initially positive but later turned negative following a general rise in beliefs. These patterns are consistent with our experiment increasing awareness of the program but decreasing trust in its implementation. Migration to cities decreased, suggesting access to food affects migrants' destination choices.

Suggested Citation

  • Travis Baseler & Ambar Narayan & Odyssia Ng & Sutirtha Sinha Roy, 2025. "Social Welfare Portability and Migration: Evidence from India's Public Distribution System," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 17(4), pages 135-164, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aejpol:v:17:y:2025:i:4:p:135-64
    DOI: 10.1257/pol.20240183
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Anderson, Michael L., 2008. "Multiple Inference and Gender Differences in the Effects of Early Intervention: A Reevaluation of the Abecedarian, Perry Preschool, and Early Training Projects," Journal of the American Statistical Association, American Statistical Association, vol. 103(484), pages 1481-1495.
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • 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
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O18 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure
    • R23 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population

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