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Challenges to promoting social inclusion of the extreme poor: evidence from a large scale experiment in Colombia

Author

Listed:
  • Laura Abramovsky

    (Institute for Fiscal Studies and Institute for Fiscal Studies)

  • Orazio Attanasio

    (Institute for Fiscal Studies and Yale University)

  • Kai Barron

    (Institute for Fiscal Studies and University College London)

  • Pedro Carneiro

    (Institute for Fiscal Studies and University College London)

  • George Stoye

    (Institute for Fiscal Studies and Institute for Fiscal Studies)

Abstract

We evaluate the large scale pilot of an innovative and major welfare intervention in Colombia, which combines homes visits by trained social workers to households in extreme poverty with preferential access to social programs. We use a randomized control trial and a very rich dataset collected as part of the evaluation to identify program impacts on the knowledge and take-up of social programs and the labor supply of targeted households. We find no consistent impact of the program on these outcomes, possibly because the way the pilot was implemented resulted in very light treatment in terms of home visits. Importantly, administrative data indicates that the program has been rolled out nationally in a very similar fashion, suggesting that this major national program is likely to fail in making a significant contribution to reducing extreme poverty. We suggest that the program should undergo substantial reforms, which in turn should be evaluated.

Suggested Citation

  • Laura Abramovsky & Orazio Attanasio & Kai Barron & Pedro Carneiro & George Stoye, 2014. "Challenges to promoting social inclusion of the extreme poor: evidence from a large scale experiment in Colombia," IFS Working Papers W14/33, Institute for Fiscal Studies.
    • Handle: RePEc:ifs:ifsewp:14/33
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Challenges to promoting social inclusion of the extreme poor: evidence from a large scale experiment in Colombia By: Laura Abramovsky (Institute for Fiscal Studies) ; Orazio Attanasio (Institute for Fiscal Studies and University College London) ; Ka
      by maximorossi in NEP-LTV blog on 2015-08-17 19:34:33

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    Cited by:

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    2. Amrit Amirapu & Irma Clots-Figueras & Bansi Malde & Anirban Mitra & Debayan Pakrashi & Zaki Wahhaj, 2022. "Personalized Information Provision and the Take-Up of Emergency Government Benefits: Experimental Evidence from India," Studies in Economics 2201, School of Economics, University of Kent.
    3. Maria Sol Gonzalez & Maria Emma Santos, 2023. "Sustainable Cities, Smart Investments: A Characterization of “A Thousand Days-San Miguel”, a Program for Vulnerable Early Childhood in Argentina," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-29, August.
    4. Paula Carrasco & Rodrigo Ceni & Ivonne Perazzo & Gonzalo Salas, 2019. "Are not any silver in the cloud? Subjective well-being among deprived young people," Documentos de Trabajo (working papers) 19-09, Instituto de Economía - IECON.
    5. Paula Carrasco & Rodrigo Ceni & Ivone Perazzo & Gonzalo Salas, 2021. "Are Not Any Silver Linings in the Cloud? Subjective Well-being Among Deprived Young People," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 491-516, February.
    6. Susana Martínez-Restrepo & Laura Ramos-Jaimes & Alma Espino & Martin Valdivia & Johanna Yancari Cueva, 2017. "Measuring women’s economic empowerment: Critical lessons from South America," Libros Fedesarrollo 15825, Fedesarrollo.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J08 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics Policies
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments

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