Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/235012 
Year of Publication: 
2020
Series/Report no.: 
Discussion Paper Series No. 689
Publisher: 
University of Heidelberg, Department of Economics, Heidelberg
Abstract: 
The maternity benefit scheme introduced as Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY) in 2011 and renamed Pradhan Mantri Matriva Sahyog Yojana (PMMVY) in 2017, which incentivizes pregnant and lactating women to participate in various infant health-promoting activities, is India's largest conditional cash transfer program thus far. We approach IGMSY's geographically targeted pilot phase as a natural experiment and use data from a large national health survey to estimate its effects by a matched-pair differences-in-differences approach. Consistent with the program's objectives we find positive, albeit small effects on infant immunization as well as long-term health care utilization. In addition, intervals between eligible births increase by 15 percent. Our findings suggest that PMMVY is moderately cost-effective, at least regarding immunization, but that it will make only a small contribution to redressing India's dismal child-health record.
Subjects: 
cash incentives
demand-side financing
child health
maternal health
India
JEL: 
I15
I18
I12
O15
O12
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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