Targeting of Transfers in Developing Countries: Review of Lessons and Experience (World Bank Regional and Sectoral Studies)

Drawing on a database of more than one hundred anti-poverty interventions in 47 countries, 'Targeting of Transfers in Developing Countries' provides a general review of experiences with methods used to target interventions in transition and developing countries. Written for policymakers and program managers in developing countries, in donor agencies, and in NGOs who have responsibility for designing interventions that reach the poor, it conveys what targeting options are available, what results can be expected as well as information that will assist in choosing among them and in their implementation. Key messages are: - While targeting 'works' - the median program transfers 25 percent more to the poor than would a universal allocation - targeting performance around the world is highly variable. - Means testing, geographic targeting, and self-selection based on a work requirement are the most robustly progressive methods. Proxy means testing, community-based selection of individuals and demographic targeting to children show good results on average, but with considerable variation. - Demographic targeting to the elderly, community bidding, and self-selection based on consumption show limited potential for good targeting. - There is no single preferred method for all types of programs or all country contexts. Successful targeting depends critically on how a method is implemented. The CD-ROM includes the database of interventions, an annotated bibliography (PDF) and Spanish and Russian translations of the book (PDFs). Contents......Page 7 Foreword......Page 9 Acknowledgments......Page 11 Acronyms and Abbreviations......Page 13 1. Introduction......Page 15 The Benefits of Targeting......Page 19 The Costs of Targeting......Page 21 2.1 Calculating Leakage and Undercoverage Rates......Page 24 Classifying Targeting Methods......Page 27 Database Construction......Page 33 Programs Identified......Page 35 Indicators of Targeting Performance......Page 39 Descriptive Analysis......Page 40 Regression Analysis......Page 47 Caveats and Limitations......Page 53 Summary......Page 56 Means Testing......Page 59 Proxy Means Testing......Page 65 Community-Based Targeting......Page 73 Geographical Targeting......Page 76 Demographic Targeting......Page 83 Self-Targeting......Page 87 What Can We Say about the Effectiveness of Targeting?......Page 97 What Can We Say about the Implementation of Targeting Methods?......Page 99 Final Remarks......Page 100 References......Page 105 Index......Page 119 3.1 Distribution of Interventions by Region and Country Income Levels......Page 36 3.2 Distribution of Targeting Methods by Region,Country Income Level, and Program Type......Page 38 3.3 Targeting Performance by Antipoverty Intervention for Sample Programs, 1985–2003......Page 41 3.4 Targeting Performance by Targeting Method......Page 46 3.5 Multivariate Analysis of Targeting Performance......Page 48 3.6 Association between Targeting Performance and Number of Methods Used......Page 52 4.1 Comparing Targeting Methods: Overview......Page 60 2.1 Targeting Poverty Alleviation Transfer......Page 20 5.1 Minimal Desired Reporting for International Comparability......Page 102 "Targeting of Transfers in Developing Countries: Review of Lessons and Experience reviews the lessons learned from 122 antipoverty interventions in 47 transition and developing countries to quantify targeting outcomes and their determinants and to inform the design and implementation of common targeting methods." "Of particular interest to policymakers and program managers in developing countries, in donor agencies, and in nongovernmental organizations, this book offers important information to facilitate the effective design of interventions that reach the poor."--BOOK JACKET. Annotation Drawing On A Database Of More Than One Hundred Anti-poverty Interventions In 47 Countries (included As A Cd-rom), This Title Provides A General Review Of Experiences With Methods Used To Target Interventions In Transition And Developing Countries. Targeting : An Overview -- The International Evidence On Targeting Outcomes -- Implementing Targeting Methods. David Coady, Margaret Grosh, John Hoddinott. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 91-104) And Index. System Requirements For Accompanying Cd-rom: Web Browser; Adobe Acrobat Reader; Cd-rom Drive. A consensus has emerged in the past two decades that economic growth is a necessary but insufficient condition for the alleviation of poverty.