Discussion paper

DP14541 Cash Transfer Programs and Household Labor Supply

Employment helps reduce the risk of poverty. Through a randomized controlled trial, we evaluate the impact of a conditional cash transfer (CCT) program to low-income families with dependent children on household members’ labor sup-ply. Recipients are required to attend labor-market-oriented mentoring courses as a condition of the transfer. One year after admission to the program, fathers assigned to the CCT program are more likely to work (+14 percent) than fathers assigned to an unconditional cash transfer program or to a pure control group. No effect arises for mothers. Results seem to be explained by improved family networks and increased parental investments in activities that enhance labor market opportunities.

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Citation

Del Boca, D, C Pronzato and G Sorrenti (eds) (2020), “DP14541 Cash Transfer Programs and Household Labor Supply”, CEPR Press Discussion Paper No. 14541. https://cepr.org/publications/dp14541