Evaluating the cost of poverty alleviation transfer programs: an illustration based on PROGRESA in Mexico
One of the common criticisms of poverty alleviation programs is that the high share of administrative (nontransfer) costs substantially reduces the programs’ impact on poverty. But very little empirical evidence exists on program costs. For example, a recent extensive international review of targete...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Brief |
| Language: | Inglés |
| Published: |
International Food Policy Research Institute
2005
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/160604 |
| _version_ | 1855515855117352960 |
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| author | Coady, David Perez, Raul Vera-Ilamas, Hadid |
| author_browse | Coady, David Perez, Raul Vera-Ilamas, Hadid |
| author_facet | Coady, David Perez, Raul Vera-Ilamas, Hadid |
| author_sort | Coady, David |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | One of the common criticisms of poverty alleviation programs is that the high share of administrative (nontransfer) costs substantially reduces the programs’ impact on poverty. But very little empirical evidence exists on program costs. For example, a recent extensive international review of targeted poverty alleviation programs in developing countries could find data on costs for only 32 out of the 111 programs reviewed. Even then, the numbers available were not always comparable. In this paper, we present a detailed analysis of the cost structure of a program recently introduced in Mexico, called PROGRESA. Our analysis shows how cost data can be used as the basis for an evaluation of the cost efficiency of anti-poverty programs. It cautions, however, that one must be very careful when interpreting cost numbers or undertaking comparisons across programs in order to avoid misleading conclusions. Any credible analysis of a program’s cost efficiency must involve a detailed analysis of cost structure and not simply provide aggregate cost information. We also highlight the importance of not neglecting private costs incurred by households in taking up transfers. |
| format | Brief |
| id | CGSpace160604 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2005 |
| publishDateRange | 2005 |
| publishDateSort | 2005 |
| publisher | International Food Policy Research Institute |
| publisherStr | International Food Policy Research Institute |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1606042025-11-06T04:21:50Z Evaluating the cost of poverty alleviation transfer programs: an illustration based on PROGRESA in Mexico Coady, David Perez, Raul Vera-Ilamas, Hadid poverty research methodology education economic aspects human capital consumer behaviour costs analysis expenditure poverty alleviation One of the common criticisms of poverty alleviation programs is that the high share of administrative (nontransfer) costs substantially reduces the programs’ impact on poverty. But very little empirical evidence exists on program costs. For example, a recent extensive international review of targeted poverty alleviation programs in developing countries could find data on costs for only 32 out of the 111 programs reviewed. Even then, the numbers available were not always comparable. In this paper, we present a detailed analysis of the cost structure of a program recently introduced in Mexico, called PROGRESA. Our analysis shows how cost data can be used as the basis for an evaluation of the cost efficiency of anti-poverty programs. It cautions, however, that one must be very careful when interpreting cost numbers or undertaking comparisons across programs in order to avoid misleading conclusions. Any credible analysis of a program’s cost efficiency must involve a detailed analysis of cost structure and not simply provide aggregate cost information. We also highlight the importance of not neglecting private costs incurred by households in taking up transfers. 2005 2024-11-21T09:51:18Z 2024-11-21T09:51:18Z Brief https://hdl.handle.net/10568/160604 en Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Coady, David; Perez, Raul; Vera-Ilamas, Hadid. Evaluating the cost of poverty alleviation transfer programs: an illustration based on PROGRESA in Mexico. FCND Discussion Paper Brief. 199. International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). https://hdl.handle.net/10568/160604 |
| spellingShingle | poverty research methodology education economic aspects human capital consumer behaviour costs analysis expenditure poverty alleviation Coady, David Perez, Raul Vera-Ilamas, Hadid Evaluating the cost of poverty alleviation transfer programs: an illustration based on PROGRESA in Mexico |
| title | Evaluating the cost of poverty alleviation transfer programs: an illustration based on PROGRESA in Mexico |
| title_full | Evaluating the cost of poverty alleviation transfer programs: an illustration based on PROGRESA in Mexico |
| title_fullStr | Evaluating the cost of poverty alleviation transfer programs: an illustration based on PROGRESA in Mexico |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluating the cost of poverty alleviation transfer programs: an illustration based on PROGRESA in Mexico |
| title_short | Evaluating the cost of poverty alleviation transfer programs: an illustration based on PROGRESA in Mexico |
| title_sort | evaluating the cost of poverty alleviation transfer programs an illustration based on progresa in mexico |
| topic | poverty research methodology education economic aspects human capital consumer behaviour costs analysis expenditure poverty alleviation |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/160604 |
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