Short-term and long-term effects of cash for work: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial in Tunisia

While a growing literature analyzes the economic effects of cash for work programs in developing countries, there remains little evidence about the longer-term effects of these interventions. This paper presents findings from a randomized controlled trial evaluating a three month intervention provid...

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Main Authors: Leight, Jessica, Mvukiyehe, Eric
Format: Artículo preliminar
Language:Inglés
Published: International Food Policy Research Institute 2023
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/140335
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author Leight, Jessica
Mvukiyehe, Eric
author_browse Leight, Jessica
Mvukiyehe, Eric
author_facet Leight, Jessica
Mvukiyehe, Eric
author_sort Leight, Jessica
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description While a growing literature analyzes the economic effects of cash for work programs in developing countries, there remains little evidence about the longer-term effects of these interventions. This paper presents findings from a randomized controlled trial evaluating a three month intervention providing public works em ployment in rural Tunisia. The evaluation design incorporates two dimensions of randomization — community-level randomization to treatment and control, and individual-level randomization among eligible individuals — and a sample of 2,718 individuals was tracked over five years. The findings suggest that cash for work leads to significant increases in labor market engagement, assets, consumption, financial inclusion, civic engagement, psychological well being, and women’s em powerment one-year post-treatment; however, these effects have largely attenuated to zero five years post-treatment, with the exception of a positive effect on assets. There is also evidence of positive spillover effects within treatment communities, but these effects similarly attenuate over time.
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spelling CGSpace1403352025-12-02T21:03:24Z Short-term and long-term effects of cash for work: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial in Tunisia Leight, Jessica Mvukiyehe, Eric labour market employment randomized controlled trials public works economics assets developing countries cash transfers cash flow rural areas gender equity public participation finance women While a growing literature analyzes the economic effects of cash for work programs in developing countries, there remains little evidence about the longer-term effects of these interventions. This paper presents findings from a randomized controlled trial evaluating a three month intervention providing public works em ployment in rural Tunisia. The evaluation design incorporates two dimensions of randomization — community-level randomization to treatment and control, and individual-level randomization among eligible individuals — and a sample of 2,718 individuals was tracked over five years. The findings suggest that cash for work leads to significant increases in labor market engagement, assets, consumption, financial inclusion, civic engagement, psychological well being, and women’s em powerment one-year post-treatment; however, these effects have largely attenuated to zero five years post-treatment, with the exception of a positive effect on assets. There is also evidence of positive spillover effects within treatment communities, but these effects similarly attenuate over time. 2023-05-17 2024-03-14T12:09:21Z 2024-03-14T12:09:21Z Working Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/140335 en Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Leight, Jessica; and Mvukiyehe, Eric. 2023. Short-term and long-term effects of cash for work: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial in Tunisia. IFPRI Discussion Paper 2184. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). https://doi.org/10.2499/p15738coll2.136708.
spellingShingle labour market
employment
randomized controlled trials
public works
economics
assets
developing countries
cash transfers
cash flow
rural areas
gender equity
public participation
finance
women
Leight, Jessica
Mvukiyehe, Eric
Short-term and long-term effects of cash for work: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial in Tunisia
title Short-term and long-term effects of cash for work: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial in Tunisia
title_full Short-term and long-term effects of cash for work: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial in Tunisia
title_fullStr Short-term and long-term effects of cash for work: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial in Tunisia
title_full_unstemmed Short-term and long-term effects of cash for work: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial in Tunisia
title_short Short-term and long-term effects of cash for work: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial in Tunisia
title_sort short term and long term effects of cash for work evidence from a randomized controlled trial in tunisia
topic labour market
employment
randomized controlled trials
public works
economics
assets
developing countries
cash transfers
cash flow
rural areas
gender equity
public participation
finance
women
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/140335
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