Iraq's Universal Public Distribution System : Utilization and Impacts During Displacement
Subsidized or free distribution of food has been a central pillar of social protection programs in many countries. With the number of forcibly displaced persons at record levels, the question arises of whether in-kind food transfer programs are eff...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Working Paper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
World Bank, Washington, DC
2020
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/239031582135436157/Iraqs-Universal-Public-Distribution-System-Utilization-and-Impacts-During-Displacement http://hdl.handle.net/10986/33360 |
| Summary: | Subsidized or free distribution of food
has been a central pillar of social protection programs in
many countries. With the number of forcibly displaced
persons at record levels, the question arises of whether
in-kind food transfer programs are effective in mitigating
the loss of welfare induced by forced displacement. This
paper examines whether Iraq’s Public Distribution System, a
universal food subsidy program, has buffered the impacts of
displacement on households. Using propensity score matching
to account for the observable differences between Public
Distribution System recipients and non-recipients, the
analysis finds that displaced households with continued
access to Public Distribution System benefits have higher
food and non-food expenditures compared with displaced
households that lost access. Likewise, the beneficiaries
have higher calorie intakes and are less vulnerable to
falling into poverty. However, displaced beneficiaries
remained significantly worse off and more vulnerable to
poverty than non-displaced households, suggesting that,
although the Public Distribution System helped mitigate
displacement to a degree, it may not be the most effective
protection program for such shocks. Given the considerable
resources the universal program consumes, it is vital to
think of alternative approaches, such as targeted cash
transfers, that might be more effective in protection and cost. |
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