Resource information
This paper uses a three-round
4,000-household panel from Andhra Pradesh together with
administrative data to explore short and medium-term poverty
and welfare effects of the National Rural Employment
Guarantee Scheme. Triple difference estimates suggest that
participants significantly increase consumption (protein and
energy intake) in the short run and accumulate more
nonfinancial assets in the medium term. Direct benefits
exceed program-related transfers and are most pronounced for
scheduled castes and tribes and households supplying casual
labor. Asset creation via program-induced land improvements
is consistent with a medium-term increase in assets by
nonparticipants and increases in wage income in excess of
program cost.
