The effects of cash and in-kind transfers on intra-household inequality: Insights from a randomized experiment

José Casco

Economics Bulletin, 2023, vol. 43, issue 3, 1519 - 1527

Abstract: In this paper, I study how intra-household inequality responds to transfers to women and whether the response depends on the transfer being in-kind or cash. Using data from an experimental evaluation of a welfare program in Ecuador, I estimate a structural model of household behavior in the presence of poverty transfers. Results suggest that there are important intra-household inequalities, but the transfer produces resource redistribution among household members. Moreover, in-kind transfers could be as effective as cash transfers in improving the within-household redistribution of resources. Finally, I document considerable heterogeneity in women's control of resources—a proxy for bargaining power—throughout their life cycle and across transfer modalities.

Keywords: Resource Shares; Transfers; Control of Resources; Cash; In-Kind (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D1 I3 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023-09-30
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