Work

Cash Transfers and Social Preferences of Children

Year: 2023

Type: report

Abstract: We study the effects of a large unconditional cash transfer program on social preferences of children in rural Kenya using a randomized controlled trial. We measure the social preferences of 4,022 children with survey questions and incentivized behavioral games three years after the cash transfer. First, we find no persistent economic effects of the program. Additionally, we find no consistent evidence that children from the treatment group or that children from the spillover group are more or less prosocial than children from the control group. However, we find some evidence of reduced psychological well-being among adults and children in spillover households.

Source: National Bureau of Economic Research

DOI: 10.3386/w31720

Authors: Johannes Haushofer, Magdalena Larreboure, Sara Lowes, Leon Mait

Institutions: National Bureau of Economic Research, Harvard University, Stockholm University, Princeton University, University of California San Diego, Busara Center for Behavioral Economics, Busara Center for Behavioral Economics

Language: English

Topic: Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare

Subfield: Safety Research

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: No poverty, Reduced inequalities, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Science Foundation, Princeton University

OpenAlex ID: W4387026604

Cites: 57

Cited by: 2

Related to: 10