Are Public Works Working in Malawi? Policy Brief No. 2

This paper studies the impact of their large public works program, including the introduction of budget-neutral design features

• From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
• Published: 20 October 2015

• Country: Malawi
• Document Type: Briefing
• Theme: Economic Growth
• Authors: Beegle, K, Galasso, E, Goldberg, J

Abstract

We partnered with the Government of Malawi to study the impact of their large public works program, including the introduction of budget-neutral design features. Our results did not find that the public works program was effective in achieving its aim of improving food security during the 2012/2013 agricultural season. Also, offering this income opportunity during the planting season did not result in greater use of fertilizer, despite this intention. It was difficult to say how the extra income from this work was spent or saved, perhaps because the amount of earnings from the program was not sufficiently large.

This research is part of the Gender, Growth and Labour Markets in Low-Income Countries programme

Citation

Beegle, K., Galasso, E. & Goldberg, J. (2015). Are Public Works Working in Malawi? GLMLIC Policy Brief No. 2. Available at: https://g2lm-lic.iza.org/publications/pb/pb2/

Link

Are Public Works Working in Malawi?

Published 20 October 2015