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Assets, cash transfers and urban livelihoods in South Africa

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  • Chibuikem Nnaeme
  • Leila Patel
  • Sophie Plagerson

Abstract

How access to cash transfers (CTs) contributes to assets and livelihoods is not well understood in development contexts. This qualitative study draws on the sustainable livelihoods approach and describes how beneficiaries acquire, mobilise and convert a diversity of assets into livelihood strategies amidst high levels of unemployment and poverty. We find that receipt of CTs had a catalytic effect enabling the pursuit of livelihoods, facilitating capital accrual and asset conversion. Among the study implications is the need to complement CTs with policies that encourage social and productive goals and recognise the informal economy in employment growth.

Suggested Citation

  • Chibuikem Nnaeme & Leila Patel & Sophie Plagerson, 2021. "Assets, cash transfers and urban livelihoods in South Africa," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(2), pages 382-395, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:jintdv:v:33:y:2021:i:2:p:382-395
    DOI: 10.1002/jid.3527
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Paul J. Gertler & Sebastian W. Martinez & Marta Rubio-Codina, 2012. "Investing Cash Transfers to Raise Long-Term Living Standards," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 4(1), pages 164-192, January.
    3. Fisher, Eleanor & Attah, Ramlatu & Barca, Valentina & O'Brien, Clare & Brook, Simon & Holland, Jeremy & Kardan, Andrew & Pavanello, Sara & Pozarny, Pamela, 2017. "The Livelihood Impacts of Cash Transfers in Sub-Saharan Africa: Beneficiary Perspectives from Six Countries," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 299-319.
    4. Michelle Adato & Stephen Devereux & Rachel Sabates-Wheeler, 2016. "Accessing the ‘Right’ Kinds of Material and Symbolic Capital: the Role of Cash Transfers in Reducing Adolescent School Absence and Risky Behaviour in South Africa," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 52(8), pages 1132-1146, August.
    5. Moser, Caroline O. N., 1998. "The asset vulnerability framework: Reassessing urban poverty reduction strategies," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 26(1), pages 1-19, January.
    6. Bebbington, Anthony, 1999. "Capitals and Capabilities: A Framework for Analyzing Peasant Viability, Rural Livelihoods and Poverty," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 27(12), pages 2021-2044, December.
    7. Nnaeme, Chibuikem C. & Patel, Leila & Plagerson, Sophie, 2020. "How cash transfers enable agency through livelihoods in South Africa," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
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    Cited by:

    1. Azad, Md Javed & Pritchard, Bill, 2022. "Financial capital as a shaper of households' adaptive capabilities to flood risk in northern Bangladesh," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).

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