Means Testing versus Universal Provision in Poverty Alleviation Programmes
Abstract
This paper contrasts the use of means-tested and universal schemes in the alleviation of poverty. Using a class of poverty measures, the authors illustrate the trade-off from the fact that means testing is costly to both the government and the claimant, while universal provision entails a leakage to the nonpoor. The paper provides numerical, as well as analytical, results. Copyright 1990 by The London School of Economics and Political Science.
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Universal Basic Incomes versus Targeted Transfers: Anti-Poverty Programs in Developing Countries
Hanna, R., & Olken, B. A. (2018) · Journal of Economic Perspectives · doi:10.1257/jep.32.4.201 · Cited by 299 · see citing works
Van Lancker, W., & Van Mechelen, N. (2015) · Social Science Research · doi:10.1016/j.ssresearch.2014.11.012 · Cited by 123 · see citing works
- Authors
- Besley, T.
- Corresponding author
- Besley, Timothy
- Venue
- Economica
- Publisher
- JSTOR
- Published
- 1990-02
- Volume
- 57
- Issue
- 225
- Pages
- 119
- ISSN
- 0013-0427 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2039637731
- Cited by
- 139
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 1 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 4.01
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Economica (publishedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Income, Poverty, and Inequality
- Social Sciences › Safety Research › Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Social Policy and Reform Studies
- Keywords
- means testing, poverty reduction, social assistance, poverty indicators, administrative costs
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