The cost of poverty alleviation transfer programs: a comparative analysis of three programs in Latin America

A common criticism of antipoverty programs is that the high share of administrative (nontransfer) costs substantially reduces their effectiveness in alleviating poverty. Yet there is surprisingly little hard empirical evidence on such programs' costs. A recent international review of targeted povert...

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Main Authors: Caldés, Natàlia, Coady, David, Maluccio, John
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Elsevier 2006
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/172116
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author Caldés, Natàlia
Coady, David
Maluccio, John
author_browse Caldés, Natàlia
Coady, David
Maluccio, John
author_facet Caldés, Natàlia
Coady, David
Maluccio, John
author_sort Caldés, Natàlia
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description A common criticism of antipoverty programs is that the high share of administrative (nontransfer) costs substantially reduces their effectiveness in alleviating poverty. Yet there is surprisingly little hard empirical evidence on such programs' costs. A recent international review of targeted poverty alleviation programs in less developed countries found cost information -- which was rarely comparable between studies -- for fewer than one-third of the programs examined. Improved information and a better understanding of the costs of such programs are crucial for effective policymaking. This study proposes and implements a methodology for a comparative analysis of the level and structure of costs of three similar poverty alleviation programs in Latin America, in order to assess their cost-efficiency. The findings underscore that any credible assessment of cost-efficiency requires a detailed analysis of program cost structures that goes well beyond simply providing aggregate cost information.
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spelling CGSpace1721162025-02-19T14:08:15Z The cost of poverty alleviation transfer programs: a comparative analysis of three programs in Latin America Caldés, Natàlia Coady, David Maluccio, John poverty alleviation human capital cost benefit analysis A common criticism of antipoverty programs is that the high share of administrative (nontransfer) costs substantially reduces their effectiveness in alleviating poverty. Yet there is surprisingly little hard empirical evidence on such programs' costs. A recent international review of targeted poverty alleviation programs in less developed countries found cost information -- which was rarely comparable between studies -- for fewer than one-third of the programs examined. Improved information and a better understanding of the costs of such programs are crucial for effective policymaking. This study proposes and implements a methodology for a comparative analysis of the level and structure of costs of three similar poverty alleviation programs in Latin America, in order to assess their cost-efficiency. The findings underscore that any credible assessment of cost-efficiency requires a detailed analysis of program cost structures that goes well beyond simply providing aggregate cost information. 2006-05 2025-01-29T12:59:22Z 2025-01-29T12:59:22Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/172116 en Limited Access Elsevier Caldés, Natàlia; Coady, David; Maluccio, John. 2006. The cost of poverty alleviation transfer programs: a comparative analysis of three programs in Latin America. World Development 34(5): 818-837. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2005.10.003
spellingShingle poverty alleviation
human capital
cost benefit analysis
Caldés, Natàlia
Coady, David
Maluccio, John
The cost of poverty alleviation transfer programs: a comparative analysis of three programs in Latin America
title The cost of poverty alleviation transfer programs: a comparative analysis of three programs in Latin America
title_full The cost of poverty alleviation transfer programs: a comparative analysis of three programs in Latin America
title_fullStr The cost of poverty alleviation transfer programs: a comparative analysis of three programs in Latin America
title_full_unstemmed The cost of poverty alleviation transfer programs: a comparative analysis of three programs in Latin America
title_short The cost of poverty alleviation transfer programs: a comparative analysis of three programs in Latin America
title_sort cost of poverty alleviation transfer programs a comparative analysis of three programs in latin america
topic poverty alleviation
human capital
cost benefit analysis
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/172116
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