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The Impact of Cash Transfers on Syrian Refugee Children in Lebanon

Author

Listed:
  • Wael Moussa

    (FHI 360)

  • Alexandra Irani
  • Nisreen Salti
  • Rima Al Mokdad
  • Zeina Jamaluddine
  • Jad Chaaban
  • Hala Ghattas

Abstract

This paper evaluates the impact of multi-purpose cash assistance on Syrian refugee children living in Lebanon. Using a sharp multidimensional regression discontinuity design, we estimate the program impact of varying cash assistance durations measured over two waves of household survey data collected in 2019. The novel research design enables us to make pairwise comparisons between children from discontinued recipient households (received cash for 12 months then got discontinued in the next cash cycle), short-run cash recipient households (up to 10 months), longterm recipient households (between 16 and 22 months) and non-beneficiary eligible households. Results show that children of any MPC recipient group are transitioning from non-formal to formal schooling while also shifting away from child labor. Cash transfers improve health outcomes for pre-primary and school-aged children and reduce the likelihood of early marriage for girls aged 15-19 years

Suggested Citation

  • Wael Moussa & Alexandra Irani & Nisreen Salti & Rima Al Mokdad & Zeina Jamaluddine & Jad Chaaban & Hala Ghattas, 2021. "The Impact of Cash Transfers on Syrian Refugee Children in Lebanon," Working Papers 1457, Economic Research Forum, revised 20 Feb 2021.
    • Handle: RePEc:erg:wpaper:1457
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    1. Caroline Krafft & Diana Jimena Arango & Amalia Hadas Rubin & Jocelyn Kelly, 2024. "Conflict and Girl Child Marriage: Global Evidence," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 43(4), pages 1-26, August.
    2. Kırdar, Murat Güray & Koç, İsmet & Dayıoğlu, Meltem, 2023. "School integration of Syrian refugee children in Turkey," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    3. Murat Guray Kirdar & Ismet Koc & Meltem Dayıoglu, 2021. "School Integration of Refugee Children: Evidence from the Largest Refugee Group in any Country," Koç University-TUSIAD Economic Research Forum Working Papers 2116, Koc University-TUSIAD Economic Research Forum.

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    JEL classification:

    • D60 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - General
    • I15 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Economic Development
    • I25 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Economic Development
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development

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