Understanding intra-household food allocation rules: Evidence from a randomized social safety net intervention in Bangladesh

Fiona M. Coleman, Akhter Ahmed (), Shalini Roy and John Hoddinott

No 2221, IFPRI discussion papers from International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Abstract: Evidence shows social protection can improve diets, but little is understood about how effects vary within a household or what factors determine how food is allocated across different household members. We use individual food intake data from two randomized control trials to estimate intrahousehold dietary impacts of cash or food transfers, with or without nutrition behavior change communication (BCC), in two regions of Bangladesh. We assess whether intrahousehold impacts 1) are consistent with different allocation "rules" hypothesized in the literature, 2) differ by transfer modality, provision of BCC, or regional context. Results indicate that households distribute food equally among their members (men, women, boys, and girls), both in absolute terms and in proportion to individual-specific requirements and deficits. Patterns are similar across regions and do not depend on transfer modality or whether BCC is provided. Findings have implications for designing nutrition-sensitive social protection with different target groups prioritized.

Keywords: social safety nets; diets; households; cash transfers; gender equality; nutrition; behaviour; resource allocation; Bangladesh; Asia; Southern Asia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-agr, nep-dev and nep-exp
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:fpr:ifprid:2221

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