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Evaluating the targeting effectiveness of social transfers: a literature review
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posted on 2023-06-06, 08:22 authored by Stephen DevereuxStephen Devereux, Edoardo Masset, Rachel Sabates-WheelerRachel Sabates-Wheeler, Michael Samson, Althea Rivas, Dolf Te LinteloDolf Te LinteloMany methodologies exist for dividing a population into those who are classified as eligible for social transfers and those who are ineligible. Popular targeting mechanisms include means testing, proxy means tests, categorical, geographic, community-based, and self-selection. This paper reviews empirical evidence from a range of social protection programmes on the accuracy of these mechanisms, in terms of minimising four targeting errors: inclusion and exclusion, by eligibility and by poverty. This paper also reviews available evidence on the various costs associated with targeting, not only administrative but also private, social, psycho-social, incentive-based and political costs. Comparisons are difficult, but all mechanisms generate targeting errors and costs. Given the inevitability of trade-offs, there is no ‘best’ mechanism for targeting social transfers. The key determinant of relative accuracy and cost-effectiveness in each case is how well the targeting mechanism is designed and implemented.
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- Published
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Institute of Development StudiesPages
67.0Place of publication
BrightonDepartment affiliated with
- International Development Publications
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IDS Working Paper No. 460 ISBN 978 1 78118 250 5Institution
Institute of Development StudiesFull text available
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2018-04-06Usage metrics
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