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Deadweight Losses or Gains from In-kind Transfers? Experimental Evidence from India

Author

Listed:
  • Klaus Abbink
  • Gaurav Datt
  • Lata Gangadharan
  • Digvijay Negi
  • Bharat Ramaswami

Abstract

Are in-kind transfers associated with deadweight losses? To answer this, we conducted an incentivized field experiment in India, which offered low-income households the choice between a free quantity of rice and varying amounts of cash to elicit their willingness to pay for rice. Contrary to expectation, we find evidence of deadweight gain on average, though with a striking contrast between a deadweight loss among respondents from female-headed

Suggested Citation

  • Klaus Abbink & Gaurav Datt & Lata Gangadharan & Digvijay Negi & Bharat Ramaswami, 2022. "Deadweight Losses or Gains from In-kind Transfers? Experimental Evidence from India," Monash Economics Working Papers 2022-10, Monash University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:mos:moswps:2022-10
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • D13 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Production and Intrahouse Allocation
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • Q18 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Agricultural Policy; Food Policy; Animal Welfare Policy

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