Social Protection and Social Distancing During the Pandemic: Mobile Money Transfers in Ghana

Dean Karlan, Matt Lowe, Robert Osei (), Isaac Osei-Akoto, Benjamin N. Roth and Christopher Udry

No 30309, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: We randomized mobile money transfers to a sample of low-income Ghanaians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Treated households received eight transfers that sum to roughly one month’s income, while control households only received one transfer. The mere announcement of upcoming transfers has null effects. Once disbursed, transfers increase contemporaneous food expenditure by 8% and income by 20%, but do not affect psychological well-being. Over 40% of the transfers are spent on food. We find suggestive evidence that transfers increased social distancing. The positive effect on income does not persist to two years after the last transfer, and surprisingly, two-year effects on consumption and psychological well-being are negative. Together, we learn that pandemic-era cash transfers can support households economically without diminishing adherence to public health protocols, though with null or negative long-term effects.

JEL-codes: H51 H84 O12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022-07
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hea, nep-mfd, nep-mon and nep-pay
Note: DEV EH LS PE
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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Working Paper: Social Protection and Social Distancing During the Pandemic: Mobile Money Transfers in Ghana (2022)
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