Working Paper: NBER ID: w30309
Authors: Dean Karlan; Matt Lowe; Robert Darko Osei; Isaac Oseiakoto; Benjamin N. Roth; Christopher R. 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 on food. 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; cash transfers
JEL Codes: H51; H84; O12
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| announcement of mobile money transfers (F24) | consumption (E21) |
| announcement of mobile money transfers (F24) | well-being (I31) |
| announcement of mobile money transfers (F24) | social distancing (I14) |
| mobile money transfers (F24) | food expenditure (D12) |
| mobile money transfers (F24) | income (E25) |
| mobile money transfers (F24) | social distancing index (C43) |
| mobile money transfers (F24) | psychological well-being (I31) |
| mobile money transfers (F24) | food security (Q18) |
| female-headed households (J12) | food expenditure (D12) |