Social Assistance and Birth Outcomes: Evidence from the Uruguayan PANES

Veronica Amarante, Marco Manacorda (), Edward Miguel and Andrea Vigorito

No 4714, Research Department Publications from Inter-American Development Bank, Research Department

Abstract: This paper estimates the impact of a large temporary poverty relief program, Uruguay’s PANES—on birth outcomes. Using program administrative data and longitudinal vital statistics, a significant and precisely estimated reduction in the fraction of low-weight newborns (less than 2,500 g. ) on the order of 10 to 20 percent was found to be a result of treatment. The cash (and in-kind) transfer components of the program were considered to drive the results, suggesting that unrestricted social assistance has the potential to positively affect birth outcomes, most likely through improved nutrition. Assuming that all the effect of the program was through the transfer, an elasticity of low birthweight with respect to welfare transfers on the order of around 0. 30 can be inferred.

JEL-codes: I18 I32 I38 J13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011-03
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dev and nep-lam
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

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Working Paper: Social Assistance and Birth Outcomes: Evidence from the Uruguayan PANES (2011)
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