Policy Transparency in the Public Sector: The Case of Social Benefits in Tanzania

Gemma C Wright (), Vincent Leyaro (), Elineema Kisanga () and Christine Byaruhanga ()
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Gemma C Wright: Southern African Social Policy Research Insights, Hove, United Kingdom.
Vincent Leyaro: Department of Economics, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Elineema Kisanga: Department of Economics, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Christine Byaruhanga: Southern African Social Policy Research Institute NPC, Western Cape, South Africa.

International Journal of Microsimulation, 2019, vol. 12, issue 1, 83-104

Abstract: In this paper we explore the eligibility criteria for the social benefits that form part of the Productive Social Safety Net programme in Tanzania — the Basic Cash Transfer and Variable Cash Transfer. An account is given of how simplified variants of these criteria were applied within TAZMOD, a static tax-benefit microsimulation model for Tanzania, in order to estimate take-up rates for these benefits. Confronted by the opaque and discretionary elements of the current benefits, we then simulate several categorical benefit alternatives which overcome many of the challenges of the current design, including a revenue neutral option that is more effective at reducing poverty and inequality. It is argued that by shifting to categorical benefits and removing the community targeting, proxy means-test, and conditionality elements, transparency would be enhanced. This would not only enable more accurate monitoring of access to and take-up of the benefits but would also enable citizens to determine their eligibility which is currently not possible.

Keywords: TRANSPARENCY; SOCIAL ASSISTANCE; COMMUNITY TARGETING; TANZANIA; MICROSIMULATION (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H83 I38 (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:ijm:journl:v:12:y:2019:i:1:p:83-104

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