Arie Kapteyn - University of Southern California
Consumption Smoothing, Frequency of Benefit Payments, and Effectiveness of Social Programs
Date: 11/12/2015 (Thu)
Time: 3:30pm- 5:00pm
Location: Seminar will be held on-site: Gross Hall - 270
Organizer: Laura Satterfield
Meeting Schedule: Login or email the organizer to schedule a meeting.
All meetings will be held in the same location as the seminar unless otherwise noted.
8:30am - Duncan Thomas (Meet at Washington Duke lobby)
9:30am - Elizabeth Frankenberg
10:00am - Rob Garlick
10:30am - Angelino Viceisza
11:00am - OPEN
11:30am - Marcos Rangel
12:00pm - Lunch with Angie O'Rand at Law School
1:30pm - Arun Hendi
2:00pm - Kate Vyborny
2:30pm - Giovanna Merli
3:00pm - Seminar Prep
3:30pm - Seminar Presentation (3:30pm to 5:00pm)
6:00pm - Dinner with Vladi Slanchev and Joe Hotz
Additional Comments: ABSTRACT: We study the effect of differences in payment frequencies (monthly and bimonthly) across two noncontributory pension programs in Yucatan, Mexico. Compared to the bimonthly program, the monthly program increased doctor visits, reduced the incidence of hunger spells and lessened the need for support from charities. Under the bimonthly program expenditures on food and beverages significantly decreased near the end of the pay-cycle, while in comparison with the monthly program expenditures on more expensive non-cereal food as well as ownership of durable goods are higher. The results suggest that frequency of benefit payments is an important design feature of social programs.