Oxford Review of Economic Policy · 2020 · 187 citations · 24 references
Public AffairsPublic PolicySocial PolicyPublic Health PolicySocial InsuranceWelfare PolicyPublic Health Emergency PolicyPublic Health Emergency ResponsePublic Health ResponseSocial ProtectionSocial VulnerabilitySocial Welfare PolicyLow-income Household VulnerabilitySocial Assistance PolicySocial Assistance ReformSocial Health ProtectionSocial Insurance CoverageSocial Protection GovernanceSocial Protection PolicyVulnerable Communities
COVID‑19 restrictions have threatened the livelihoods of vulnerable households, prompting governments to adopt emergency economic measures to provide a safety net. We provide an overview of policies that could form a comprehensive social protection strategy in low‑ and middle‑income countries, with examples of specific policies adopted. These strategies could include expanding social insurance, building on existing social assistance programmes, and involving local governments and non‑state institutions to identify and assist vulnerable groups that are otherwise harder to reach. Our core argument is that low‑ and middle‑income countries can cast an emergency safety net with extensive coverage if they use a broader patchwork of solutions than higher‑income countries.
Abstract The public health response to COVID-19 in many countries has involved strict restrictions on movement and economic activity which threaten the livelihoods of economically vulnerable households. In response, governments are adopting emergency economic measures to provide households with some safety net. We provide an overview of the policies that could form a comprehensive social protection strategy in low-income and middle-income countries, with examples of specific policies that have been adopted. Our core argument is that these countries can cast an emergency safety net with extensive coverage if they use a broader patchwork of solutions than higher-income countries. These strategies could include expanding their social insurance system, building on existing social assistance programmes, and involving local governments and non-state institutions to identify and assist vulnerable groups who are otherwise harder to reach.
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Targeting the Poor: Evidence from a Field Experiment in Indonesia
Vivi Alatas, Abhijit Banerjee, Rema Hanna et al. · American Economic Review · 2012 · 537 citations · Full text