EA - Evidence on how cash transfers empower women in poverty by GiveDirectly

Link to original articleWelcome to The Nonlinear Library, where we use Text-to-Speech software to convert the best writing from the Rationalist and EA communities into audio. This is: Evidence on how cash transfers empower women in poverty, published by GiveDirectly on March 8, 2023 on The Effective Altruism Forum.Donations to GiveDirectly put power in the hands of recipients, 62% of whom are women. On International Women’s Day, hear directly from women and girls in poverty in Malawi about the unique ways that direct cash empowers them:This impact is more than anecdotal; research finds that cash aid lets women improve their lives in many ways. Below, we break down the evidence by story.Maternal & infant healthLenita - “When I was pregnant, I would fall sick [and] could not afford the fare to go to the hospital.”Studies find that cash can:Increase the use of health facilities.Improve birth weight and infant mortality – one study found GiveDirectly’s program reduced child mortality by ~70% and improved child growth.Education & domestic violenceAgatha - “My husband was so abusive... so I left him and went back to try to finish school.”Studies find that cash can:Reduce incidents of physical abuse by a male partner of a woman – one study found GiveDirectly’s program reduced physical intimate partner violence.Increase school attendance for girls.Decision-making powerBeatrice - “My husband and I always argued. about how to spend what little money we had. Now, when we receive the money, we plan together.”Studies find that cash can:Increase a woman’s likelihood of being the sole or joint decision-maker.Entrepreneurship & savingsAnesi - “With the businesses I started, I want to buy land for my children so they will never forget me.”Studies find that cash can:Increase entrepreneurship – one study of GiveDirectly’s program found new business creation doubled. For more on female entrepreneurs, watchIncrease the number of families saving and the amount they saved – one study of GiveDirectly’s program found women doubled their savings. To learn about women's savings groups, watchElderly supportFaidesi - “Now that I am old, I can’t farm and often sleep hungry. I would have been dead if it wasn’t for these payments.”Studies find that cash can:Reduce the likelihood of having had an illness in the last three months – one study in Tanzania found cash reduced the number of doctor visits made by women over 60.Bastagli et al 2016Siddiqi et al 2018McIntosh & Zeitlin 2018Haushofer et al 2019McIntosh & Zeitlin 2020Pega et al 2017Evans et al 2014Thanks for listening. To help us out with The Nonlinear Library or to learn more, please visit nonlinear.org.