The Impact of Financial Education on Conditional Cash Transfer Beneficiaries in Peru

Abstract

The research did not find conclusive evidence on changes in expenditures on health and education due to the SPP (Savings Promotion Pilot). Since we cannot claim a non-negative impact on these variables, we think it is possible that part of the savings comes from these sources, creating an unintended negative effect. Nonetheless, we consistently found an impact of the SPP on empowerment at the community level of nearly 14 per cent, as an indirect consequence of economic empowerment through savings. We also found a non-harmful impact of the SPP on the social networks of the programme beneficiaries: there is an insignificant (close to zero) impact on the proportion of the population receiving economic help from others, while the proportion of those giving economic help increased by around 9 per cent.