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Are Conditional Cash Transfers Effective in Urban Areas? Evidence from Mexico

Author

Listed:
  • Jere R. Behrman

    (Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania)

  • Jorge Gallardo-Garcia

    (Bates White Consulting, Wash DC)

  • Susan W. Parker

    (División de Economía, Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas – CIDE)

  • Petra E. Todd

    (Department of Economics. University of Pennsylvania)

  • Viviana Velez-Grajales

    (Inter-American Development Bank, IDB Headquarters, Wash DC)

Abstract

Conditional cash transfer (CCT) programs have spread worldwide as a new form of social assistance for the poor. Previous evaluations of CCT programs focus mainly on rural settings, and little is known about their effects in urban areas. This paper studies the short-term (one and two-year) effects of the Mexican Oportunidades CCT program on urban children/youth. The program provides financial incentives for children/youth to attend school and for family members to visit health clinics. To participate, families had to sign up for the program and be deemed eligible. Difference-in-difference propensity score matching estimates indicate that the program is successful in increasing school enrollment, schooling attainment and time devoted to homework and in decreasing working rates of boys.

Suggested Citation

  • Jere R. Behrman & Jorge Gallardo-Garcia & Susan W. Parker & Petra E. Todd & Viviana Velez-Grajales, 2011. "Are Conditional Cash Transfers Effective in Urban Areas? Evidence from Mexico," PIER Working Paper Archive 11-024, Penn Institute for Economic Research, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania.
    • Handle: RePEc:pen:papers:11-024
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    conditional cash transfer programs; matching estimators; program evaluation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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