疫情期间的社会保护与社会隔离：加纳的移动货币转移支付
Social protection and social distancing during the pandemic: Mobile money transfers in Ghana
Journal of Development Economics · 2025 · [{"name": "Dean Karlan", "affiliation": ["Northwestern University", "Innovations for Poverty Action"]}, {"name": "Matt Lowe", "affiliation": ["University of British Columbia"]}, {"name": "Robert Osei", "affiliation": ["University of Ghana"]}, {"name": "Isaac Osei‐Akoto", "affiliation": ["University of Ghana"]}, {"name": "Benjamin Roth", "affiliation": ["Harvard University"]}, {"name": "Christopher Udry", "affiliation": ["Northwestern University"]}]
中文摘要
我们在 COVID-19 疫情期间对一组低收入加纳人随机发放了移动货币转移。处理组家庭收到八笔转移，合计约为一个月的收入，而对照组家庭仅收到一笔转移。仅仅宣布即将发放转移并无效果。转移一经发放，即使同期食品支出增加 8%、收入增加 20%，但不影响心理福祉。超过 40% 的转移被用于食品支出。我们发现提示性证据表明，转移增加了社交距离。对收入的正向效应在最后一笔转移两年后并未持续；令人意外的是，两年后对消费和心理福祉的影响转为负向。总体而言，我们发现，疫情时期的现金转移能够在经济上支持家庭，且不削弱其对公共卫生规程的遵守，尽管其长期效应为零或为负。
Abstract
We randomized mobile money transfers to a sample of low-income Ghanaians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Treated households received eight transfers that sum to roughly one month’s income, while control households only received one transfer. The mere announcement of upcoming transfers has no effect. Once disbursed, transfers increase contemporaneous food expenditure by 8% and income by 20%, but do not affect psychological well-being. Over 40% of the transfers are spent on food. We find suggestive evidence that transfers increased social distancing. The positive effect on income does not persist to two years after the last transfer, and surprisingly, two-year effects on consumption and psychological well-being are negative. Together, we learn that pandemic-era cash transfers can support households economically without diminishing adherence to public health protocols, though with null or negative long-term effects.