Social protection and social distancing during the pandemic: Mobile money transfers in Ghana
研究随机向加纳低收入家庭发放移动货币转账，发现转账增加了当期食品支出和收入，并可能促进社会距离，但长期效果为负面。
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.