Children left behind by the economy and social fabric face issues
which may persist throughout the course of their lives. Investment which
addresses disadvantage and inequality experienced in the early years of an
individual’s life has significant long term economic and social returns.
Child sensitive social
protection measures are important tools for assisting those children left
behind as well, mitigating shocks, including economic, social and natural
stresses and crises which often have a disproportionate impact on all children.
Cash
transfers are one social protection measure that have had widespread
success, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean.
A study by the London School of Economics which focused
specifically on Uruguay
and children's birth outcomes found that participation in a generous cash
transfer program contributed to a 15% reduction in the incidence of low birth
weight (Amarante V et al, 2011). Further a study by the International
Development Bank which focused on a program for young children in Nicaragua, found that
cash transfers had a positive effect on child development, specifically
regarding their cognitive development, and that there was no 'fade out' of
impacts 2 years after the program and the transfers stopped (Macours K et al,
2008).
Interestingly within this project no evidence was found to
suggest that child development outcomes were better for households who received
larger transfers, however other factors such as the social awareness marketing
that accompanied the program and giving the transfers to women were deemed to
have significantly contributed to the positive outcomes (Macours K et al, 2008).
Another study conducted in Europe also found that with cash transfers, when
assessing income poverty scores, the size of the transfer wasn’t the most
influential factor and that its design and relevance to context were also of
great importance (Social Protection Committee, 2012).
Cash transfers are not perceived as effective strategies the
world over. Indeed in some developed and developing country contexts, they are
perceived as simple hand outs which nurture dependency. Independent of these
opinions, when considered specifically in relation to children who experience
disadvantage and inequality, their effectiveness at averting and addressing
lifelong damage makes them a worthwhile investment.
Amarante V et al (2011) Do Cash Transfers Improve Birth Outcomes? Evidence
from Matched Vital Statistics, Social Security and Program Data, London School
of Economics
Macours K et al (2008) Cash Transfers, Behavioural Changes,
and the Cognitive Development of Young Children: Evidence from a Randomized
Experiment, International Development Bank
Social Protection Committee (2012) SPC Advisory Report to the
European Commission on Tackling and Preventing Child Poverty, Promoting Child
well-being, European Commission, 27 June 2012
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