Preview |
PDF, English
Download (4MB) | Terms of use |
Abstract
Targeting of national anti-poverty programs in low-income countries commonly relies on statistical procedures involving household-level survey data, while small-scale poverty-alleviation programs often employ so-called community-based targeting, where village communities themselves identify program beneficiaries. Combining data from community-based targeting exercises in north-western Burkina Faso with household-level survey data, we compare the targeting accuracy of community-based targeting with several statistical procedures when the program's purpose is to target consumption-poor households. We find that the community-based assessment targets a similar share of consumption-poor households as the best-performing statistical procedures which are not calibrated with household-level consumption data. Community-based targeting performs relatively better in urban than in rural areas and is not at a disadvantage in larger or more heterogeneous communities. In a cost-benefit analysis we find that in our sub-Saharan African context community-based targeting is far more cost-effective than any statistical procedure for common amounts of welfare program benefits.
Document type: | Working paper |
---|---|
Series Name: | Discussion Paper Series, University of Heidelberg, Department of Economics |
Volume: | 0623 |
Place of Publication: | Heidelberg |
Date Deposited: | 22 Nov 2016 14:22 |
Date: | November 2016 |
Number of Pages: | 59 |
Faculties / Institutes: | The Faculty of Economics and Social Studies > Alfred-Weber-Institut for Economics |
DDC-classification: | 330 Economics |
Uncontrolled Keywords: | Targeting, Community-based Targeting, Welfare Programs, Poverty, Community Wealth Rankings, Proxy-means Testing |
Series: | Discussion Paper Series / University of Heidelberg, Department of Economics |