|
" The design, implementation and impact of conditional cash transfers targeted on the poor : "
Bastagli, Francesca
| Document Type
|
:
|
Latin Dissertation
|
| Record Number
|
:
|
1098364
|
| Doc. No
|
:
|
TLets540368
|
| Main Entry
|
:
|
Bastagli, Francesca
|
| Title & Author
|
:
|
The design, implementation and impact of conditional cash transfers targeted on the poor :\ Bastagli, Francesca
|
| College
|
:
|
London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London)
|
| Date
|
:
|
2008
|
| student score
|
:
|
2008
|
| Degree
|
:
|
Ph.D.
|
| Abstract
|
:
|
The thesis analyses conditional cash transfers (CCTs) as a category of public policytools, using Brazil's national Bolsa Familia as a case study. CCTs typically paymonetary transfers to the poor, provided they follow a specific course of action. Theyshare a common structure of three components: a cash transfer, targeting mechanismand conditionality. In recent years, CCTs have experienced a remarkable expansionas countries, particularly in Latin America, have introduced them as key componentsof their poverty reduction strategies. In Brazil, the Bolsa Familia reform waslaunched in 2003, consolidating four existing national programmes into a singletargeted cash transfer that would gradually reach 24% of Brazil's population (44million people), making it one of the world's largest public cash transfers to the poor.The thesis identifies three motivations underlying the introduction of CCTs -political, administrative and well-being outcomes - and uses these as lenses ofanalysis of the Bolsa Familia. Firstly, based on a review of official documents and oninterviews with politicians and public officials in Brasilia, it identifies the BolsaFamilia's design features and policy objectives. Secondly, it asks, how does BolsaFamilia implementation compare with official national policy regulation? Is itachieving intended administrative objectives? Based on an analysis of administrativedata and on interviews with municipal Bolsa Familia administrators in fivemunicipalities in the state of Minas Gerais, the thesis explores national programmeimplementation as well as variations in the day-to-day administration of theprogramme at the municipal level. Using nationally representative household surveymicro-data, the thesis then analyses the Bolsa Famlia's distributional and povertyimpact. It provides a detailed targeting analysis uncovering. the determinants ofprogramme participation and trajectories of exclusion. Finally, the thesis investigatesthe programme's potential effect on long-term well-being outcomes by testing theassociation between Bolsa Familia receipt and beneficiary behaviour for two groupsof people and sets of activities: school-aged children and school attendance and adultheads of household and work participation.The thesis makes two main contributions. Paying close attention to the BolsaFamilia's income, targeting and conditionality components and using a combinationof quantitative and qualitative methods and multiple information sources, it generatesevidence on the programme's implementation and impact. Drawing from theBrazilian experience furthermore, it contributes to the broader' debate on CCTs,pointing to the limitations and potentials of such policy tools taking into accountvariations in programme design and implementation as well as their positioningwithin the broader welfare state.
|
| Added Entry
|
:
|
London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London)
|
| |