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The impact of cash transfers on Syrian refugee children in Lebanon

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  • Moussa, Wael
  • Salti, Nisreen
  • Irani, Alexandra
  • Mokdad, Rima Al
  • Jamaluddine, Zeina
  • Chaaban, Jad
  • Ghattas, Hala

Abstract

This paper evaluates the impact of multi-purpose cash assistance on Syrian refugee children living in Lebanon. Using a sharp multidimensional regression discontinuity design, we estimate the program impact of varying cash assistance durations measured over two waves of household survey data collected in 2019. The novel research design enables us to make pairwise comparisons between children from discontinued recipient households (received cash for 12 months then got discontinued in the next cash cycle), short-run cash recipient households (up to 10 months), long-term recipient households (between 16 and 22 months) and non-beneficiary eligible households. Results show that children of any MPC recipient group are transitioning from non-formal to formal schooling while also shifting away from child labor. Cash transfers improve health outcomes for pre-primary and school-aged children and reduce the likelihood of early marriage for girls aged 15–19 years.

Suggested Citation

  • Moussa, Wael & Salti, Nisreen & Irani, Alexandra & Mokdad, Rima Al & Jamaluddine, Zeina & Chaaban, Jad & Ghattas, Hala, 2022. "The impact of cash transfers on Syrian refugee children in Lebanon," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:150:y:2022:i:c:s0305750x21003260
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2021.105711
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    2. Caroline Krafft & Diana Jimena Arango & Amalia Hadas Rubin & Jocelyn Kelly, 2024. "Conflict and Girl Child Marriage: Global Evidence," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 43(4), pages 1-26, August.
    3. Tamim,Abdulrazzak & Smith,Emma & Palmer,I. Bailey & Miguel,Edward & Leone,Samuel & Rozo, Sandra & Stillman,Sarah, 2025. "Housing Subsidies for Refugees : Experimental Evidence on Life Outcomes and Social Integration in Jordan," Policy Research Working Paper Series 11042, The World Bank.
    4. Nahed T. Zeini & Pakinam Mahmoud Fikry, 2025. "Leveraging machine learning and resampling techniques to analyze contributing factors to child labor in Egypt," Journal of Computational Social Science, Springer, vol. 8(4), pages 1-38, November.
    5. Lyons, Angela C. & Montoya Castano, Alejandro & Kass-Hanna, Josephine & Zhang, Yifang & Soliman, Aiman, 2025. "A machine learning approach to assessing multidimensional poverty and targeting assistance among forcibly displaced populations," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    6. Abdulrazzak Tamim & Emma C. Smith & Bailey Palmer & Edward Miguel & Samuel Leone & Sandra V. Rozo & Sarah Stillman, 2025. "Housing Subsidies for Refugees: Experimental Evidence on Life Outcomes and Social Integration in Jordan," NBER Working Papers 33408, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    7. Gupta, Prankur & Stein, Daniel & Longman, Kyla & Lanthorn, Heather & Bergmann, Rico & Nshakira-Rukundo, Emmanuel & Rutto, Noel & Kahura, Christine & Kananu, Winfred & Posner, Gabrielle & Zhao, K.J. & , 2024. "Cash transfers amid shocks: A large, one-time, unconditional cash transfer to refugees in Uganda has multidimensional benefits after 19 months," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    8. Kirdar, Murat Güray & Koc, Ismet & Dayioglu-Tayfur, Meltem, 2021. "School Integration of Refugee Children: Evidence from the Largest Refugee Group in Any Country," IZA Discussion Papers 14716, IZA Network @ LISER.
    9. Hızıroğlu Aygün, Aysun & Kırdar, Murat Güray & Koyuncu, Murat & Stoeffler, Quentin, 2024. "Keeping refugee children in school and out of work: Evidence from the world's largest humanitarian cash transfer program," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    10. Aubery, Frederic & Buisson, Marie-Charlotte, 2024. "Making ends meet in refugee camps: Food distribution cycles, consumption and undernutrition," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    11. Kırdar, Murat Güray & Koç, İsmet & Dayıoğlu, Meltem, 2023. "School integration of Syrian refugee children in Turkey," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).

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    JEL classification:

    • D60 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - General
    • I15 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Economic Development
    • I25 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Economic Development
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development

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