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Reducing Delay in Payments in Welfare Programs: Experimental Evidence from an Information Dissemination Intervention

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  • Upasak Das
  • Amartya Paul
  • Mohit Sharma

Abstract

This paper assesses the impact of an information dissemination intervention on the local-level implementation of the rural public works program in India. One key feature of the intervention is to provide information to workers once their wages get credited into their accounts. Using administrative and survey data, its impact on delays in wage payments and days of work along with the awareness levels of the entitlements is evaluated. The findings indicate a substantial reduction in payment delays and in trips made for wage withdrawal, in addition to improvements in awareness. The decrease in the payment delays in the treated villages persists even beyond the intervention period. While a limited impact on work days is observed during the intervention, a significant increase in the post-intervention period is found. The findings substantiated through qualitative evidence provide a platform for an innovative and cost-effective intervention to improve the implementation of social protection programs.

Suggested Citation

  • Upasak Das & Amartya Paul & Mohit Sharma, 2023. "Reducing Delay in Payments in Welfare Programs: Experimental Evidence from an Information Dissemination Intervention," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 37(3), pages 494-517.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:wbecrv:v:37:y:2023:i:3:p:494-517.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/wber/lhad011
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. David S. Lee, 2009. "Training, Wages, and Sample Selection: Estimating Sharp Bounds on Treatment Effects," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 76(3), pages 1071-1102.
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    1. Upasak Das & Rupayan Pal & Udayan Rathore & Bibhas Saha, 2023. "Rein in pandemic by pricing vaccine: Does social trust matter?," Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Mumbai Working Papers 2023-008, Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Mumbai, India.
    2. Parantap Basu & Rajesh Raj S. N & Kunal Sen, 2024. "Payment delay in workfare programmes and household welfare: Theory and some evidence from India," Manchester School, University of Manchester, vol. 92(2), pages 93-121, March.
    3. Suguna Bheemarasetti & Anuradha De & Rajendran Narayanan & Parul Saboo & Laavanya Tamang, 2025. "MGNREGA as a Technological Laboratory: Analysing Wage Payment Delays as a Result of Two Digital Interventions," The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, Springer;The Indian Society of Labour Economics (ISLE), vol. 68(2), pages 681-706, June.
    4. Sara Almeida & Hanna Berkel & Sam Jones & Patricia Justino & Telça Massingue & Hilário Muchabel, 2024. "Can social pensions for the elderly mitigate shocks?: Lessons from Mozambique," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2024-90, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    5. Sania Ashraf & Cristina Bicchieri & Upasak Das & Alex Shpenev, 2023. "Shifting Beliefs Changing Behavior: Experimental Evidence on Sanitation from India," Papers 2312.16205, arXiv.org, revised Apr 2026.

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