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Brazil’s Bolsa Família program is a conditional cash transfer scheme that has been hailed for dramatically reducing poverty and inequality since its launch in 2003. Under the scheme, qualifying families receive a monthly stipend on the condition that they fulfill certain requirements in health and education. Although the Bolsa Família is a federal program, each of Brazil’s 5, 564 municipalities play an important role in its local implementation. Using a combination of regression analysis and four case studies from the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, this study evaluates the impact of local government capacity on beneficiaries’ health and education. I find that municipalities with higher administrative capacity – more developed collaboration across sectors and more competent staff – are likely to be more effective in implementing the BFP, as observed by higher monitoring rates. As a result, the percentage of beneficiaries who comply with the program’s health and education requirements is likely to be higher in these municipalities. The paper concludes that local governments are critical actors in the success of this program and calls for policymakers to build administrative capacity through a combination of incentives and regulations.
PeopleResearcher: Pui Shen Yoong Advisors: Professor Jessica Teets (Political Science), Professor John Maluccio (Economics)
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PeopleThesis Advisors: Jeff Cason and Roberto Pareja
Mellon Grant Project Advisor: Enrique García
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Since 2009, Team Peru has sent two teams a year to Peru’s Sacred Valley where they collaborate with local leaders to initiate sustainable agriculture and health education projects. This summer, Team Peru will establish a permanent office in Cusco to maintain projects year round.
PeoplePui Shen Yoong Svea Closser |
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Dilma atinge 40% entre participantes do Bolsa Família
Dilma diz que quer ser ‘mãe à altura’ dos brasileiros
Antes das eleições CEF erra e paga Bolsa Família maior
Prefeita relata prática de angraiar votos para Lula com programa federal
Plínio quer quadruplicar beneficiarios do Bolsa Familia e reduzir tempo do auxilio
Em Pernambuco Lula defende o Bolsa Familia
Norma do governo distribuída a prefeitos diz que próximo gestor pode mudar regras do Bolsa Família
No radio Serra garante continuidade do Bolsa Familia, Dilma fala sobre PAC
Em Santa Catarina, Marina diz que não fará ‘aventuras econômicas’ se for eleita
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Last semester a group of students in the Master of Public Administration program completed a case study of One Less, primarily addressing organizational sustainability in the young nonprofit start-up.
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