Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP17510
Authors: Dean Karlan; Matt Lowe; Robert Osei; Isaac Osei Akoto; Benjamin Roth; Christopher Udry
Abstract: We study the impact of mobile money transfers to a representative sample of low-income Ghanaians during the COVID-19 pandemic. The announcement of the upcoming transfers affects neither consumption, well-being, nor social distancing. Once disbursed, transfers increase food expenditure by 8%, income by 20%, and a social distancing index by 0.08 standard deviations. Over 40% of the transfers were spent onfood. The positive effects on income mostly persist at final measurement, eight months after the last transfer. Together,we learn that cash transfers can support households economically while also promoting adherence to public health protocols during a pandemic.
Keywords: Mobile Money Transfers; Social Protection; COVID-19; Ghana
JEL Codes: O12; H51; H84
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Mobile money transfers (F24) | Food expenditure (D12) |
| Mobile money transfers (F24) | Income (D31) |
| Mobile money transfers (F24) | Social distancing index (C43) |
| Announcement of transfers (F16) | Labor supply (J22) |
| Announcement of transfers (F16) | Consumption patterns (D10) |
| Mobile money transfers (F24) | Psychological well-being (I31) |