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The impacts of unconditional cash transfers on schooling in adolescence and young adulthood: Evidence from South Africa

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  • Neryvia Pillay

Abstract

I study an expansion of a South African social grant program that provided unconditional cash transfers to adolescents for the first time. Over the period 2009 to 2012, age eligibility for the child support grant was progressively extended from children under 14 to children under 18 years old. I use a difference-in-difference identification strategy that exploits the cross-birth cohort variation in adolescent grant eligibility generated by these age eligibility changes to examine how unconditional cash transfers affect schooling outcomes in adolescence and young adulthood. I find that adolescent grant eligibility increases enrollment and attainment, with the effects concentrated among females, rural individuals, and those with the lowest numerical literacy. I explore education spending as a channel through which the child support grant affects education outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Neryvia Pillay, "undated". "The impacts of unconditional cash transfers on schooling in adolescence and young adulthood: Evidence from South Africa," ERSA Working Paper Series v::y:2020:i::id:112, Economic Research Southern Africa.
    • Handle: RePEc:rza:ersawp:v::y:2020:i::id:112
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    File URL: https://ersawps.org/index.php/working-paper-series/article/view/112/84
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Marisa Coetzee, 2013. "Finding the Benefits: Estimating the Impact of The South African Child Support Grant," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 81(3), pages 427-450, September.
    2. World Bank, 2014. "The State of Social Safety Nets 2014," World Bank Publications - Reports 18376, The World Bank Group.
    3. Ingrid Woolard & Murray Leibbrandt, 2010. "The Evolution and Impact of Unconditional Cash Transfers in South Africa," SALDRU Working Papers 51, Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town.
    4. Nicola Branson & Clare Hofmeyr & David Lam, 2014. "Progress through school and the determinants of school dropout in South Africa," Development Southern Africa, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(1), pages 106-126, January.
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