The short-lived effects of unconditional cash transfers to refugees

Onur Altindag and O’Connell, Stephen D.

Journal of Development Economics, 2023, vol. 160, issue C

Abstract: We study two year-long unconditional cash-based assistance programs for Syrian refugees in Lebanon, and show that they improve consumption, child well-being, food security, and reduce livelihood coping. Despite high transfer values, we find no evidence of lasting effects at six months after either program ends. Households spend transfers on basic needs and take children out of work and re-enroll them in school. Beneficiaries increase cash savings and their stock of durable goods, but liquidate and spend these assets during or soon after the beneficiary period. The results are similar for longer assistance periods and across transfer modalities.

Keywords: Unconditional cash transfers, Cash-based interventions, Food vouchers, Forced displacement, Humanitarian aid, Refugees, Children, Lebanon (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D74 I32 I38 O12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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:deveco:v:160:y:2023:i:c:s0304387822000918

DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2022.102942

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