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Cash transfers and labour supply under structural unemployment

Author

Listed:
  • Timothy Köhler
  • Benjamin Stanwix
  • Haroon Bhorat

Abstract

How effective are cash transfers at improving labour market outcomes in settings characterized by severe job scarcity and constraints to self-employment? This paper provides evidence of the labour market effects of South Africa's Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, a low-value, unconditional cash transfer targeting unemployed working-age adults that was first introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic and extended annually thereafter.

Suggested Citation

  • Timothy Köhler & Benjamin Stanwix & Haroon Bhorat, 2026. "Cash transfers and labour supply under structural unemployment," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2026-19, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2026-19
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    File URL: https://www.wider.unu.edu/sites/default/files/Publications/Working-paper/PDF/wp2026-19-cash-transfers-labour-supply-structural-unemployment.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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