The Overseas Development Institute has just released a systematic review of the evidence on cash transfers, which is timely as I think we all felt that FCDO’s 2011 review had probably passed its sell-by date. The review is a massive undertaking, covering 165 distinct studies of 56 programs and reviewing impacts on a wide range of outcomes – poverty, education, health and nutrition, savings, investment and production, employment, and empowerment. Its broad conclusions are not surprising (at least to us): “the evidence reflects how powerful a policy instrument cash transfers can be, and highlights the range of potential benefits for beneficiaries.”



But there are some interesting patterns one level down: