Researchers

Dennis Egger, Johannes Haushofer, Edward Miguel, Michael Walker

Abstract

This study builds in large parts on a previous cash transfer experiment, explained in detail in Egger et al (2019), which estimated economy-wide effects of a randomised cash transfer program by the NGO GiveDirectly in Siaya County, Western Kenya. Between 2014-2016, GiveDirectly provided large, one-time transfers to recipient households that constituted over 15 percent of GDP in treatment villages.

To understand the impact of COVID-19 on this study area, researchers collect phone survey data (to minimize in-person interactions) from households and enterprises. These phone surveys measure economic, health and behavioral change outcomes for households and enterprises targeted in Egger et al (2019). The research team also brings in a sample of additional households and enterprises based on a recent census activity to ensure the sample is representative for the entire study area as recently as possible. This census tracked all 70,000 households and 20,000 enterprises in the area, providing an up-to-date representative sample of households and firms.

Project Outcomes of Interest

Household outcomes: total consumption expenditure, total income, total hours worked outside the home (self-emp & emp), Food security index, Child education index; Enterprise outcomes: total revenue, aggregate economic outcomes, price index (P1), local GDP estimate, expenditure side; health outcomes: COVID knowledge index (CKN9), COVID symptoms index, number of social interactions in last 2 weeks, mental health index

Partners

GiveDirectly, REMIT Kenya, Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA)

Impact Goals

Project Data Collection Mode

Link to Pre-Registration

https://osf.io/32t4m

Implementing Organization

Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA)

Results Status

No Results Yet