Do Cash Transfers Improve Birth Outcomes? Evidence from Matched Vital Statistics, Program and Social Security Data

Veronica Amarante, Marco Manacorda, Edward Miguel and Andrea Vigorito

Department of Economics, Working Paper Series from Department of Economics, Institute for Business and Economic Research, UC Berkeley

Abstract: There is limited empirical evidence on whether cash social assistance to poor pregnant women improves children’s birth outcomes. Using program administrative micro-data matched to longitudinal vital statistics on the universe of births in Uruguay, we estimate that participation in a generous cash transfer program led to a sizeable 15 to 17% reduction in the incidence of low birth weight. Improvements in mother nutrition and a fall in labor supply, out-of-wedlock births and mother’s smoking all appear to contribute to this effect. Effects are not driven by changes in fertility. We conclude that, by improving child health, cash transfers may help break the cycle of intergenerational poverty.

Keywords: Medicine and Health Sciences; Social and Behavioral Sciences; public policy; fertility; child care; family planning; children; youth; cash transfers; reproductive health; government policy; welfare programs (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012-09-23
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Journal Article: Do Cash Transfers Improve Birth Outcomes? Evidence from Matched Vital Statistics, Program, and Social Security Data (2016)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cdl:econwp:qt565889qz

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