Social Transfers and Growth: A Review

53 Pages Posted: 20 Jan 2010

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: December 1, 2008

Abstract

A considerable and growing literature exists on social transfers in developing countries, that is, direct transfers in cash or kind to individuals or households in poverty. Many studies have examined the contribution social transfers can make to reducing poverty and vulnerability in the developing world, but less attention has been paid to how social transfers might affect growth. This review examines the available evidence on the effects social transfers may be expected to have on growth at the micro-level. It identifies and assesses a number of pathways through which social transfers can potentially contribute either to enhancing or impeding growth.

This paper argues that in assessing the growth impacts of social transfers, it is important to focus on the poor and their circumstances. The discussion of the linkages between social transfers and growth in developed countries focuses on cross-country empirical studies, testing the hypothesis that if social expenditures are harmful to growth performance then they will show a negative correlation with growth across a sample of countries.

Keywords: Bangladesh, Brazil, Ethiopia, Mozambique, social transfers, micro-credit

Suggested Citation

Barrientos, Armando, Social Transfers and Growth: A Review (December 1, 2008). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1538926 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1538926

Armando Barrientos (Contact Author)

Global Development Institute ( email )

Arthur Lewis Building
Oxford Road
Manchester, M13 9PL
United Kingdom
+44 (0)1613066436 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.manchester.ac.uk/gdi

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