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Comparing cash and voucher transfers in a humanitarian context : evidence from the Democratic Republic of Congo

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  • Aker,Jenny C.

Abstract

Despite recent calls in support of cash transfers, there is little rigorous evidence of the relative impacts of cash versus in-kind transfers, especially in humanitarian contexts, where a majority of such programs take place. This paper uses data from a randomized experiment in the Democratic Republic of Congo to assess the relative impacts and costs of equivalently valued cash and voucher transfers. The voucher program distorted households? purchases along both the extensive and intensive margin as compared with unconstrained cash households. Yet there were no differences in food consumption or other measures of well-being, in part due to the fact that voucher households were able to resell part of what they purchased. As there were no significant benefits to vouchers, cash transfers were the more cost effective modality for both the implementing agency and program recipients in this context.

Suggested Citation

  • Aker,Jenny C., 2015. "Comparing cash and voucher transfers in a humanitarian context : evidence from the Democratic Republic of Congo," Policy Research Working Paper Series 7469, The World Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:7469
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    Cited by:

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    2. David K. Evans & Anna Popova, 2017. "Cash Transfers and Temptation Goods," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 65(2), pages 189-221.
    3. World Bank Group, 2016. "Cash Transfers in Humanitarian Contexts," World Bank Publications - Reports 24699, The World Bank Group.
    4. Ingvild Almås & Johannes Haushofer & Anders Kjelsrud, 2019. "The Income Elasticity for Nutrition: Evidence from Unconditional Cash Transfers in Kenya," NBER Working Papers 25711, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    5. Augustine T Choko & Sophie Candfield & Hendramoothy Maheswaran & Aurelia Lepine & Elizabeth Lucy Corbett & Katherine Fielding, 2018. "The effect of demand-side financial incentives for increasing linkage into HIV treatment and voluntary medical male circumcision: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials ," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(11), pages 1-15, November.

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