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Assessing the Social Welfare Effects of Government Transfer Programs: Some International Comparisons

Author

Listed:
  • Nanak Kakwani
  • Xiaobing Wang
  • Jing Xu
  • Ximing Yue

Abstract

This paper offers a new way of assessing government cash transfers using a social welfare function framework. It demonstrates how one can use soci al welfare functions to measure the efficiency of such program s without requir ing the specif ication of a poverty line or particular poverty measures . The paper introduces three alternative principles of targeting, which provide a basis for measuring program efficiency. By applying the methodology developed in this paper , we compare the targeting efficiencies of 44 countries , which include both middle and high income countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Nanak Kakwani & Xiaobing Wang & Jing Xu & Ximing Yue, 2020. "Assessing the Social Welfare Effects of Government Transfer Programs: Some International Comparisons," LIS Working papers 786, LIS Cross-National Data Center in Luxembourg.
    • Handle: RePEc:lis:liswps:786
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Piotr Paradowski & Joanna Wolszczak-Derlacz & Eva Sierminska, 2020. "Inequality, Poverty and Child Benefits: Evidence from a Natural Experiment," LIS Working papers 799, LIS Cross-National Data Center in Luxembourg.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C52 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Model Evaluation, Validation, and Selection
    • H53 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Welfare Programs
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • O23 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Development Planning and Policy - - - Fiscal and Monetary Policy in Development

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