An evaluation of alternative transfer designs for the Nicaraguan Red de Protecciòn Social

This paper applies a micro-simulation method to evaluate the effects of the transfer design of a conditional cash transfer program in Nicaragua for households with two eligible children. The paper then exploits evidence from the experimental implementation of the Red de Protección program to validate its behavioral model and method simulation. After validating its methods, the paper simulates alternative program designs. The simulation of alternative programs suggests that delivering benefits on a per-child basis or unconditionally will lower attendance rates relative to the original RPS program, which delivered its benefits at the household level. The paper concludes by discussing possible mechanisms driving the simulated results and the contributions and limitations of ex-ante evaluation methods.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Agricultural & Applied Econ

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2011

Author dc:creator

• Meyer, Jennifer A.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Arends-Kuenning, Mary P.

• Micro-simulation
• Conditional cash transfers
• Red de Proteccion Social
• Impact Evaluation

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2011 Jennifer A. Meyer

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/24295

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/24295