Do Workfare Programs Live Up to Their Promises? Experimental Evidence from Côte d'Ivoire
American Economic Journal: Applied Economics · 2026 · Marianne Bertrand、Bruno Crépon、Alicia Charlene Marguerie、Patrick Prémand
中文摘要
我们研究了一项公共工程项目的当期及项目后影响，该项目为城市青年提供为期七个月的正规最低工资就业，并辅以创业或求职方面的配套培训。在项目期间，就业率仅略有上升，但我们发现就业向有薪工作转移、收入和储蓄提高，以及工作习惯、行为和福祉方面的积极变化。项目结束后，我们未发现对就业或行为的持续影响，收入方面仅有来自独立活动的有限增益。运用机器学习分析异质性，我们表明替代性的瞄准方法可以大幅改善福利。(JEL C45, G51, H53, I38, J13, J64, O15)
Abstract
We study contemporaneous and post-program impacts of a public works program which provides urban youth seven months of employment at the formal minimum wage with complementary training in entrepreneurship or job search. During the program, the employment rate only increases slightly, but we find a shift toward wage jobs, higher earnings and savings, as well as positive changes in work habits, behaviors, and well-being. After the program, we find no lasting impact on employment or behaviors, with only limited gains in earnings stemming from independent activities. Using machine learning to analyze heterogeneity, we show that alternative targeting approaches can substantially improve welfare. (JEL C45, G51, H53, I38, J13, J64, O15)