Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/58447 
Year of Publication: 
2011
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 6231
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
There is limited empirical evidence on whether unrestricted cash social assistance to poor pregnant women improves children's birth outcomes. Using program administrative micro-data matched to longitudinal vital statistics on the universe of births in Uruguay, we estimate that participation in a generous cash transfer program led to a sizeable 15% reduction in the incidence of low birthweight. Improvements in mother nutrition and a fall in labor supply, out-of-wedlock births and mother's smoking all appear to contribute to the effect. We conclude that, by improving child health, unrestricted unconditional cash transfers may help break the cycle of intergenerational poverty.
Subjects: 
welfare transfers
birth outcomes
JEL: 
J88
I38
J13
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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