I wrote a piece attempting to justify "strings attached" in anti-poverty programs over at Ordinary Times. It doubles as a bit of a critique of academia, or at least on analytical overconfidence. Link below:
http://ordinary-gentlemen.com/blog/2015/04/13/a-partial-defense-of-strings-attached
I'd be interested to talk more with you sometime about how this relates to international poverty alleviation programs. They come from what, domestically, would be seen as an ultra-liberal impulse, but nearly all come with "strings attached." It's only recently that the idea of unconditional cash transfers has gained currency, and though it's faced resistance, evaluations suggest it's mostly more effective and cost-effective than restricting purchases Missouri-style. The most effective conditions, though, tend to be positive, not negative: for example, if you're trying to improve nutrition among children under 5, "we'll distribute 100 lira per month to all mothers who attend our monthly childcare seminars / participate in periodic surveys about the food they prepare for their children / bring their children in for a monthly checkup and weigh-in."
ReplyDeleteWould love to have that chat someday.
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