City Research Online

Abstract

We study food Engel curves among the poor population targeted by a conditional cash transfer programme in Colombia. After controlling for the endogeneity of total consumption and for the price variability across villages, our estimates imply that an increase in consumption by 10% would lead to a decrease of 1% in the share of food. However, quasi-experimental estimates of the impact of the programme show that the share of food increases. This result is not inconsistent with the hypothesis that the programme could increase the bargaining power of women, inducing a more than proportional increase in food consumption.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Mesnard, A.M., Attanasio, O. & Battistin, E. (2012). Food and Cash Transfers: Evidence from Colombia. The Economic Journal, 122(559), pp. 92-124, which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0297.2011.02473.x . This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HB Economic Theory
Departments:	School of Policy & Global Affairs > Economics
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

Export

Downloads