Do Public Works Programs Have Sustained Impacts? A Review of Experimental Studies from LMICs

Aanchal Bagga, Marcus Holmlund, Nausheen Khan, Subha Mani, Eric Mvukiyehe and Patrick Premand

The World Bank Research Observer, 2026, vol. 41, issue 1, 1-38

Abstract: Many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have introduced public works programs that offer temporary cash-for-work opportunities to poor individuals. We review experimental evidence on the impacts of public works programs on participants over the short and medium run, providing new insights on whether they have sustained impacts. Our findings show that public works mainly increase employment and earnings during the program. Short-term positive effects tend to fade in the medium run, except in a few cases in which large impacts on savings or investments in self-employment activities are also observed. We find evidence of improvements in psychological well-being and women's empowerment in some cases, but not systematically, and with limitations in measurement. In some contexts, public works programs also improve market wages, affecting both participants and non-participants. We conclude by outlining directions for future research.

Keywords: public works programs; experimental evidence; low- and middle-income countries; social protection; employment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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