Public Works Programmes and Cooperation for the Common Good: Evidence from Malawi

Stefan Beierl () and Marina Dodlova ()
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Stefan Beierl: University of Passau
Marina Dodlova: University of Passau

The European Journal of Development Research, 2022, vol. 34, issue 3, No 4, 1264-1284

Abstract: Abstract This paper investigates the relationship between Malawi’s largest and oldest public works programme (PWP) and social cohesion, specifically within-community cooperation for the common good. Using both primary and secondary data, we show that public works are associated with higher coordination activities and higher voluntary (unpaid) contributions to public goods, along both vertical ties (between community members and local leaders) and horizontal ties (among community members). Especially for school-building activities, voluntary inputs in the form of labour and other in-kind contributions are higher in the presence of the PWP. Our results contribute to a better understanding of the link between social protection programmes with community-driven features and social cohesion.

Keywords: Public works; Cash-for-work; Social protection; Cooperation for the common good; Coordination; Community meeting; Voluntary contributions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pal:eurjdr:v:34:y:2022:i:3:d:10.1057_s41287-022-00525-1

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DOI: 10.1057/s41287-022-00525-1

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