Question

Question 1:

In your own words, define what Conditional Cash Transfers are. Highlight one advantage and one disadvantage of the conditionality attached to these cash transfers.

Question 2:

What are the key findings of the effects of CCTs in the education sector? Make sure you touch upon access to education vs. actual learning vs. any other education outcomes. What is the evidence about the role of gender in the efficacy of CCTs?

Question 3:

What were some of the implementation issues faced by CCTs?

Question 4:

In your own words, explain what the policy implications of the CCTs are.

Question 5

Comment on how CCTs can potentially solve the issue of intergenerational poverty. Think of both enrollment into school and learning when you think of this question

Question 6

If you were asked to design a CCT for improving learning, what would the main characteristics of that policy be? You should think of all the angles to making sure it is a good policy (including monitoring, implementation, the size of the transfer, what the condition should be)

Question 7

Read up on Mexico's most famous and revolutionary CCT - Progresa/Opportunidades. Write down about the conditionality, the implementation, it's success. Also name a famous Brazilian CCT.

Answer 1

1. Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) are such programs that are aimed to bring down poverty by ensuring welfare programs conditional upon the beneficiaries' actions. The government or the charity agency only transfers the credit to persons who meet certain eligibility criteria. These criteria could range from enrolling kids or students into schools, visiting doctors at public hospitals, receiving vaccinations, etc.

One advantage is it ensures performanced based incentive for human development of children and the like and the disadvantage is that it has programmes that are imposed upon all the children alike neglecting their varied requirements and needs.