Does money talk?: Designing safety net programs that work

Abstract

In the past couple of decades, developing countries have experimented with new ways of designing safety nets to protect their most vulnerable people. They have tried giving cash, providing food, handing over vouchers allowing recipients to buy food, and attaching conditions. But what works best to improve people’s well-being and enhance their food and nutrition security? IFPRI researchers and others have tried to answer this question in different countries and contexts, and the feature article in this issue of Insights looks at their work. The merits of these different approaches to safety nets, it turns out, vary depending on conditions in each community. The rest of this issue of Insights describes other important IFPRI research, touching on many different areas related to food policy. As always, we welcome your thoughts and comments.