| By: |
John Maluccio;
Natàlia Caldés;
David Coady |
| Abstract: |
A common criticism of antipoverty programs is that the high share of
administrative (nontransfer) costs substantially reduces their effectiveness.
Yet, there is surprisingly little rigorous empirical evidence on program
costs. Improved information and a better understanding of the costs of such
programs are crucial for effective policymaking. This study proposes and
implements a replicable methodology for a comparative cost analysis of three
similar poverty alleviation programs in Latin America, and assesses their cost
efficiency. The findings underscore that any credible assessment of
cost-efficiency requires a detailed analysis of program cost structures that
goes well beyond simply providing aggregate cost information. |
| Keywords: |
cost efficiency, poverty alleviation, human capital, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua |
| Date: |
2005 |
| URL: |
http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:mdl:mdlpap:0527&r=lam |