Over the last two decades, unconditional cash transfers have become an increasingly widespread tool to address poverty in low- and middle-income countries. In the same period, however, cash transfer programs remained virtually non-existent in high-income countries, due in part to the benefits...

Over the last two decades, unconditional cash transfers have become an increasingly widespread tool to address poverty in low- and middle-income countries. In the same period, however, cash transfer programs remained virtually non-existent in high-income countries, due in part to the benefits...

We meta-analyze for impact and cost-effectiveness 94 studies from 47 conditional cash transfer (CCT) programs in low- and middle-income countries worldwide, focusing on educational outcomes that include enrollment, attendance, dropout and school completion. To conceptually guide and interpret...

In spite of the significant research literature identifying a tradeoff between income redistribution and economic growth, massive public programs have been implemented to help the poor by transferring income to them. Since Lyndon Johnson's war on poverty began in 1964, over 3.5 trillion dollars...

This paper examines the efficacy of three conditional cash transfer (CCT) programs in Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua in mitigating the potential negative effects of an income shock caused by falling prices of coffee, an important cash crop to many CCT participants. A theoretical household model...

We meta-analyze enrollment, attendance and dropout impact and cost-effectiveness estimates from forty-two CCT program evaluations in fifteen developing countries. Average impacts and cost-effectiveness estimates for all outcomes in primary and secondary schooling are statistically different from...

This paper discusses the definition and modelling of a universal basic income (UBI). Afterclarifying the debate about what a UBI is and presenting the arguments in favor and against,an analytical approach for its assessment is proposed. The adoption of a UBI as a policy tool isdiscussed with...

This paper aims to assess tax policy reforms that can sustain universal basic income programs and foster long-term growth and welfare in a currency union that faces fiscal rule constraints and inequality. To address this ongoing government and economics' debate, we developed a Dynamic Stochastic...

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the government of Cameroon launched anemergency cash transfers program in urban areas. It aimed to mitigate the adverse economic impacts by providing temporary income support to poor informal sector workers unable to access other social protection benefits....