Can Small Incentives Have Large Payoffs? Health Impacts of a Cash Transfer Program in Bolivia

B-Tier
Journal: Economic Development & Cultural Change
Year: 2021
Volume: 69
Issue: 2
Pages: 591 - 621

Authors (4)

Pablo A. Celhay (Pontificia Universidad Católic...) Julia Johannsen (not in RePEc) Sebastian Martinez (not in RePEc) Cecilia Vidal (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

0.505 = (α=2.02 / 4 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We study the effects of a conditional cash transfer for health care utilization, equivalent to 1% of monthly household consumption, on child survival in Bolivia. Using census data and an instrument for program take-up, we show that the intervention increased the survival rates of birth cohorts exposed to the program by 3.8% to 14.7%. A pathways analysis shows higher rates of early antenatal care and skilled birth attendance for women and a higher number of growth monitoring checkups and immunization for children. The intervention is highly cost-effective, at $746 per disability-adjusted life year averted, making the program’s design a promising policy alternative.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:ucp:ecdecc:doi:10.1086/703085
Journal Field
Development
Author Count
4
Added to Database
2026-01-25