The Importance of the Safety Net Program for Informal Workers' Food Security Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia

Rodhiah Umaroh, Amirusholihin and Yuliawati
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Rodhiah Umaroh: Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Pembangunan Nasional Veteran Yogyakarta, D. I. Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Amirusholihin: Digital Agribusiness Study Program, Faculty of Food Security, Surabaya State University, East Java, Indonesia
Yuliawati: Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Pembangunan Nasional Veteran Yogyakarta, D. I. Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Economics and Finance in Indonesia, 2025, vol. 71, 88-102

Abstract: This study examines the effects of social safety-net programs on food security among vulnerable groups, focusing on households with informal workers. Utilizing data from the High-Frequency Monitoring of the COVID-19 Impacts 2020 (HiFy) and estimates with the Longitudinal Propensity Score Matching (LPSM) method, the findings reveal that cash and food assistance significantly reduce food insecurity among informal workers’ households. The households receiving these safety net programs experienced an 8–11% lower probability of food insecurity compared to non-recipients, as indicated by the Average Treatment Effect on the Treated (ATT) value. The study highlights the need for continued investment in inclusive and effective safety net programs to safeguard vulnerable populations, particularly in developing countries with significant informal labor forces.

Keywords: safety net program; informal workers; cash transfer; food assistance; COVID-19; pandemic (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D1 D6 I38 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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