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Maternal Cash Transfers for Gender Equity and Child Development: Experimental Evidence from India

Author

Listed:
  • Jeffrey Weaver
  • Sandip Sukhtankar
  • Paul Niehaus
  • Karthik Muralidharan

Abstract

Cash transfer programs to women in India now reach over 130 million beneficiaries at an annual cost of 0.6% of GDP, yet evidence on their effects remains limited. We study the impact of unconditional transfers to new mothers in India using a large-scale randomized evaluation. Treated households saw a 9.6–15.5% increase in calorie intake for mothers and children, along with gains in dietary diversity and nutrient consumption. Gender disparities in food consumption narrowed. We find significant gains in children’s functional development. While anthropometric indicators did not improve on average, they may have in areas with better sanitation.

Suggested Citation

  • Jeffrey Weaver & Sandip Sukhtankar & Paul Niehaus & Karthik Muralidharan, 2024. "Maternal Cash Transfers for Gender Equity and Child Development: Experimental Evidence from India," NBER Working Papers 32093, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:32093
    Note: CH DEV
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    Cited by:

    1. Madeline Duhon & Lia Fernald & Joan Hamory & Edward Miguel & Eric Ochieng & Michael W. Walker, 2024. "Intergenerational Human Capital Impacts and Complementarities in Kenya," NBER Working Papers 32617, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D13 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Production and Intrahouse Allocation
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I15 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Economic Development
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling

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