Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP15124
Authors: Lasse Brune; Dean Karlan; Sikandra Kurdi; Christopher Udry
Abstract: Social protection programs are needed more than ever during periods of social upheaval, but are also likely to be even harder to implement successfully. Furthermore, social upheaval makes measuring the impact of such policies all the more difficult. We study the impact of a multi-faceted social protection program, often referred to as a “graduation” model program, in Yemen during a period of civil unrest. We are unable to measure outcomes for four years, thus much remains unknown about what transpired in the intermediary time. After four years we find positive impacts on savings behavior and asset accumulation, albeit substantially less than the amount the household originally received.
Keywords: conflict; social protection; poverty; transfer programs
JEL Codes: O12; I30; J24; F51; C93
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| graduation program (A23) | savings behavior (D14) |
| graduation program (A23) | asset accumulation (G51) |
| graduation program (A23) | livestock rearing and slaughtering activities (Q10) |
| graduation program (A23) | per capita consumption (E20) |
| graduation program (A23) | household income (D19) |
| graduation program (A23) | mortality rates among household heads (J12) |