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From Pilot to Policy: Analysis and Recommendations to Better Target the Poor in Georgia

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  • Honorati, Maddalena
  • Carraro, Ludovico
  • Sormani, Roberto Claudio

Abstract

Effectively identifying the poor is critical to the success of many social assistance programs, particularly where public resources are scarce. Proxy means testing (PMT) is a popular method for “targeting” social assistance and has been implemented in a wide variety of countries. This paper responds to Georgia’s request to improve poverty-targeted social assistance (TSA) eligibility and implementation. We re-estimated the PMT model and household needs index using recent HIES data, supported the design and implementation of its pilot and quantitatively evaluated pilot results based on government administrative data. Drawing on pilot evidence, the paper proposes final refinements of the TSA targeting formula and discusses recommendations to effectively implement the revised targeting formula as well as considerations to move towards a means test approach.

Suggested Citation

  • Honorati, Maddalena & Carraro, Ludovico & Sormani, Roberto Claudio, 2026. "From Pilot to Policy: Analysis and Recommendations to Better Target the Poor in Georgia," The Social Policy and Labor Discussion Paper Series 208678, The World Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:hdnspu:208678
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Angus Deaton & Christina Paxson, 1998. "Economies of Scale, Household Size, and the Demand for Food," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 106(5), pages 897-930, October.
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