The impact of conditional cash transfers on nutrition outcomes: Experimental evidence from Mexico
Natalie Kronebusch and
Amy Damon
Economics & Human Biology, 2019, vol. 33, issue C, 169-180
Abstract:
In this paper, we study the effect of Progresa, a conditional cash transfer program in Mexico, on the micronutrient and macronutrient consumption levels of program participants. Overall, we find that Progresa has a complicated effect on nutrition outcomes. We find that treatment households increase their vitamin consumption by 15 percent and mineral consumption by 7 percent. Our results indicate that conditional cash transfers may have important positive effects on vitamin A, iron, and possibly calcium, which are under-consumed by a vast majority of the Mexican population. We also find that Progresa increases consumption of processed carbohydrates by 23 percent and saturated fat by about 5 percent. These findings suggest that Progresa has a dual effect on the nutrition outcomes of Progresa eligible households, likely improving macro- and micronutrient consumption levels, but also increasing the consumption of food categories that likely lead to increased prevalence of overweight and obesity.
Keywords: Progresa; Oportunidades; Conditional cash transfer; Mexico; Macronutrients; Micronutrients (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I15 N96 O12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ehbiol:v:33:y:2019:i:c:p:169-180
DOI: 10.1016/j.ehb.2019.01.008
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