THE IMPACT OF EMERGENCY CASH ASSISTANCE IN A PANDEMIC: EXPERIMENTAL EVIDENCE FROM COLOMBIA

Juliana Londoño-Vélez, Pablo Querubín

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    We study the impact of money on households during the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020, Colombia rolled out a new unconditional cash transfer (UCT) to 1 million households in poverty worth US$19 (PPP US$55.6) and paid every five to eight weeks. Using a randomized control trial and linked administrative and survey data, we find the UCT had positive (albeit modest) effects on measures of household well-being (e.g., financial health, food access). Moreover, the UCT boosted support for emergency assistance to households and firms during the crisis and promoted social cooperation. Finally, we explore the bottlenecks in expanding mobile money during a pandemic.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Pages (from-to)157-165
    Number of pages9
    JournalReview of Economics and Statistics
    Volume104
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Jan 6 2022

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Social Sciences (miscellaneous)
    • Economics and Econometrics

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