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The effects of social pensions on nutrition‐related health outcomes of the poor: Quasi‐experimental evidence from Peru

Author

Listed:
  • Noelia Bernal
  • Javier Olivera
  • Marc Suhrcke

Abstract

This paper exploits the discontinuity around a welfare index of eligibility to assess the impact of Peru's social pension program Pension 65 on nutrition‐related health outcomes among elderly poor individuals. Overall, we find evidence of how a relatively inexpensive program can produce improvements in anemia and nutrition‐related mortality risk markers. The effects appear to be driven by plausible underlying mechanisms, including via improved nutritional quality as well as greater food expenditures and healthcare utilization. These positive effects are only modestly countered by tentative signs of an increased obesity risk among women in the short term (

Suggested Citation

  • Noelia Bernal & Javier Olivera & Marc Suhrcke, 2024. "The effects of social pensions on nutrition‐related health outcomes of the poor: Quasi‐experimental evidence from Peru," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(5), pages 971-991, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:hlthec:v:33:y:2024:i:5:p:971-991
    DOI: 10.1002/hec.4806
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. David Syam Budi Bakroh & Heikki Hiilamo, 2025. "The Role of Pension Benefits in Food Consumption Disparities and Nutrition Inadequacy Among the Elderly in Indonesia," SAGE Open, , vol. 15(3), pages 21582440251, August.
    2. Decancq, Koen & Olivera, Javier & Schokkaert, Erik, 2025. "Ethnic differences and preference heterogeneity: assessing social pensions in Peru," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 126601, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    3. Guimbeau, Amanda & Menon, Nidhiya, 2024. "Pensions and Depression: Gender-Disaggregated Evidence from the Elderly Poor in India," IZA Discussion Papers 17530, IZA Network @ LISER.

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