ABSTRACT

Haushofer and Shapiro examined the short-term impacts of Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT) and the differential impacts by transfer recipient’s gender, timing (monthly versus lump sum) and magnitude, using data collected in a randomised controlled trial from 2011 to 2012 in rural Kenya. The study found the UCT to increase assets, consumption, revenue, food security, and psychological well-being indices, but to have no overall effects on health, education, or female empowerment indices. Compared to lump-sum transfers, monthly transfers improved food security but reduced asset holdings. Large transfers, when compared to small transfers, increased asset holdings and improved the psychological well-being index.

This replication study reexamined the main findings of Haushofer and Shapiro’s and reported consistent findings on the overall effects of the UCT and the differences across treatment arms. These findings are sustained in rigorous robustness checks, however, the Principal Component Analysis results suggest a need for further examination of the method of measuring food security, health and psychological well-being.

摘要

Haushofer和Shapiro使用从2011年至2012年在肯尼亚农村地区进行的随机对照试验收集的数据，研究了无条件现金转移（UCT）的短期影响以及转移接受者的性别，时间安排（每月与一次性付款）和金额的不同影响。 。研究发现，UCT可以增加资产，消费，收入，粮食安全和心理健康指数，但对健康，教育或女性赋权指数没有整体影响。与一次性转移相比，每月转移改善了粮食安全，但减少了资产持有量。与小额转移相比，大额转移增加了资产持有量并改善了心理健康指数。

这项复制研究重新审查了Haushofer和Shapiro's的主要发现，并报告了有关UCT总体效果和治疗组间差异的一致发现。这些发现在严格的稳健性检查中得以维持，但是，主成分分析结果表明需要进一步检查测量粮食安全，健康和心理健康的方法。