Reducing Adolescent Risky Behaviors in a High-Risk Context

The Effects of Unconditional Cash Transfers in South Africa

Datos Bibliográficos

ID4903748
AutoresCarolyn J Heinrich (0000-0002-7731-9138, Vanderbilt University), John Hoddinott (0000-0002-0590-3917, Cornell University), Michael Samson (0000-0002-1537-4940, Economic Policy Institute)
Año2017
Volumen65
Número4
Páginas619-652
Fecha de publicación2017-07-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaEconomic Development and Cultural Change (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0013-0079 • E-ISSN: 1539-2988
EditorialUniversity of Chicago Press (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1086/691552
OpenAlexW2604293463
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas17
Referencias citadas26

South African adolescents living in poverty are at significant risk for negative outcomes associated with risky sexual activity and substance use. The South African government introduced the Child Support Grant (CSG) to reduce poverty and provide protection from these risks. We use variation in grant receipt by age to estimate potential effects of this unconditional cash transfer program on adolescent outcomes. The study findings suggest that the CSG may play an important role in reducing adolescent risky behaviors, particularly early sexual debut among females. The results also suggest that policy efforts to expand grant access to children up to adulthood and to reduce barriers to maintaining grant access for those living in poverty should improve outcomes for South African adolescents

Cash · Cash transfers · Child support · Context (archaeology) · Demographic economics · Economic growth · Economics · Geography · Government (linguistics) · Political science · Poverty · Receipt · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations · Homelessness and Social Issues · Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare · Psychology