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Unconditional government social cash transfer in Africa does not increase fertility

Author

Listed:
  • Tia Palermo

    (UNICEF Office of Research—Innocenti)

  • Sudhanshu Handa

    (UNICEF Office of Research—Innocenti
    University of North Carolina)

  • Amber Peterman

    (UNICEF Office of Research—Innocenti)

  • Leah Prencipe

    (UNICEF Office of Research—Innocenti)

  • David Seidenfeld

    (American Institutes for Research (AIR))

Abstract

Among policymakers, a common perception surrounding the effects of cash transfer programmes, particularly unconditional programmes targeted to families with children, is that they induce increased fertility. We evaluate the Zambian Child Grant Programme, a government unconditional cash transfer targeted to families with a child under the age of 5 and examine impacts on fertility and household composition. The evaluation was a cluster randomized control trial, with data collected over 4 years from 2010 to 2014. Our results indicate that there are no programme impacts on overall fertility. Our results contribute to a small evidence base demonstrating that there are no unintended incentives related to fertility due to cash transfers.

Suggested Citation

  • Tia Palermo & Sudhanshu Handa & Amber Peterman & Leah Prencipe & David Seidenfeld, 2016. "Unconditional government social cash transfer in Africa does not increase fertility," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 29(4), pages 1083-1111, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jopoec:v:29:y:2016:i:4:d:10.1007_s00148-016-0596-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s00148-016-0596-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Kei SAKATA & C. R. McKENZIE, 2022. "Does the expectation of having to look after parents in the future affect current fertility?," JODE - Journal of Demographic Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 88(3), pages 283-211, September.
    2. Sonia Laszlo & Muhammad Farhan Majid & Laëtitia Renée, 2024. "Conditional cash transfers and women's reproductive choices," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(2), February.
    3. Sefa Awaworyi Churchill & Nasir Iqbal & Saima Nawaz & Siew Ling Yew, 2024. "Do unconditional cash transfers increase fertility? Lessons from a large‐scale program," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 62(1), pages 74-96, January.
    4. Zohra S. Lassi & Sophie G. E. Kedzior & Wajeeha Tariq & Yamna Jadoon & Jai K. Das & Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, 2021. "Effects of preconception care and periconception interventions on maternal nutritional status and birth outcomes in low‐ and middle‐income countries: A systematic review," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 17(2), June.
    5. Jose Cuesta & Mario Negre & Ana Revenga & Maika Schmidt, 2018. "Tackling Income Inequality: What Works and Why?," Journal of Income Distribution, Ad libros publications inc., vol. 26(1), pages 1-48, March.
    6. Donald,Aletheia Amalia & Goldstein,Markus P. & Koroknay-Palicz,Tricia & Sage,Mathilde, 2024. "The Fertility Impacts of Development Programs," Policy Research Working Paper Series 10848, The World Bank.
    7. Natalie Malak & Md Mahbubur Rahman & Terry A. Yip, 2019. "Baby bonus, anyone? Examining heterogeneous responses to a pro-natalist policy," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 32(4), pages 1205-1246, October.
    8. Superti, Luiz Henrique, 2019. "Effects on Fertility of The Brazilian Cash Transfer Program: Evidence from a Regression Discontinuity Approach," MPRA Paper 104627, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised Oct 2020.

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