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Assessing the Social Welfare Effects of Government Transfer Programs: Some International Comparisons☆

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  • Nanak Kakwani
  • Xiaobing Wang
  • Jing Xu
  • Ximing Yue

Abstract

This paper offers a new way of assessing government transfer programs using a social welfare function framework. It demonstrates how one can use social welfare functions to measure such programs' efficiency without requiring the specification of a poverty line or particular poverty measures. The paper introduces three alternative principles of targeting, which provide a basis for measuring program efficiency. By applying the methodology developed in this paper, we compare the targeting efficiencies of 44 countries, which include both middle and high‐income countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Nanak Kakwani & Xiaobing Wang & Jing Xu & Ximing Yue, 2021. "Assessing the Social Welfare Effects of Government Transfer Programs: Some International Comparisons☆," Review of Income and Wealth, International Association for Research in Income and Wealth, vol. 67(4), pages 1005-1028, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:revinw:v:67:y:2021:i:4:p:1005-1028
    DOI: 10.1111/roiw.12500
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Yangyang Shen & Shi Li & Xiaobing Wang, 2021. "Impacts of Two Tax Reforms on Inequality and Welfare in China," China & World Economy, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 29(3), pages 104-134, May.
    2. Nanak Kakwani & Xiaobing Wang & Ning Xue & Peng Zhan, 2022. "Growth and Common Prosperity in China," China & World Economy, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 30(1), pages 28-57, January.
    3. Marko Ledić & Ivica Rubil & Ivica Urban, 2023. "Tax progressivity and social welfare with a continuum of inequality views," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 30(5), pages 1266-1296, October.
    4. Muhammad Hanri & Calista Endrina Dewi & Sheny Diah Puspita, 2025. "Urgent Choices: Evaluating The Impact of Housing and Wash Programs in Indonesia," Journal of Developing Economies, Universitas Airlangga, vol. 10(1), pages 132-150.
    5. Anne Villamil & Xiaobing Wang & Ning Xue, 2021. "A political foundation of public investment and welfare spending," Journal of Public Economic Theory, Association for Public Economic Theory, vol. 23(4), pages 660-690, August.

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