This website uses cookies.

By clicking the "Accept" button or continuing to browse our site, you agree to first-party and session-only cookies being stored on your device to enhance site navigation and analyze site performance and traffic. For more information on our use of cookies, please see our Privacy Policy.

  1. Home
  2. Journals
  3. American Economic Review: Insights
  4. Forthcoming Articles
  5. The Fading Treatment Effects of a Multi-Faceted Asset-Transfer Program in Ethiopia

The Fading Treatment Effects of a Multi-Faceted Asset-Transfer Program in Ethiopia

  • Nathan Barker
  • Dean Karlan
  • Christopher Udry
  • Kelsey Wright
American Economic Review: Insights (Forthcoming)

Abstract

We study the long-run effects of a big-push “graduation” program in Ethiopia in which very poor households received a one-time transfer of productive assets (mainly livestock), technical training, and access to savings accounts. After seven years, treatment effects on wealth and consumption remain economically meaningful but dissipated relative to the two- and three-year results. Treatment effects on other outcomes attenuated further. Based on absolute wellbeing (e.g., food security) not dropping, we argue that the treatment effect dissipation is driven primarily by improved living standards for control households, rather than losses of the previously accrued benefits for the treatment households.

Downloads