Conditional Cash Transfers: Influence on Marriage and Fertility

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

3-26-2015

Journal

International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences: Second Edition

DOI

10.1016/B978-0-08-097086-8.31098-4

Keywords

Adolescent girls; Cash transfers; Conditionality; Developing countries; Education; Empowerment; Fertility; Health; Marriage; Social protection

Abstract

© 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. This article discusses the theoretical foundations and investigates the existing evidence on the impact of conditional cash transfers (CCTs) on the marriage and fertility of the transfer recipient (typically the adult female in the household) as well as the school-age beneficiary. The relatively scant existing literature suggests small to no impact on the marriage and fertility of the transfer recipient, with suggestive evidence of small declines in both outcomes for female school-age beneficiaries. New research on CCTs that directly condition on marriage, as well as additional longer term evidence, will allow for more robust conclusions to be drawn.

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