Protecting child nutritional status in the aftermath of a financial crisis: evidence from Indonesia

Abstract

Standard-Nutzungsbedingungen:Die Dokumente auf EconStor dürfen zu eigenen wissenschaftlichen Zwecken und zum Privatgebrauch gespeichert und kopiert werden.Sie dürfen die Dokumente nicht für öffentliche oder kommerzielle Zwecke vervielfältigen, öffentlich ausstellen, öffentlich zugänglich machen, vertreiben oder anderweitig nutzen.Sofern die Verfasser die Dokumente unter Open-Content-Lizenzen (insbesondere CC-Lizenzen) zur Verfügung gestellt haben sollten, gelten abweichend von diesen Nutzungsbedingungen die in der dort genannten Lizenz gewährten Nutzungsrechte. www.econstor.eu The Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) in Bonn is a local and virtual international research center and a place of communication between science, politics and business. IZA is an independent nonprofit organization supported by Deutsche Post Foundation. The center is associated with the University of Bonn and offers a stimulating research environment through its international network, workshops and conferences, data service, project support, research visits and doctoral program. IZA engages in (i) original and internationally competitive research in all fields of labor economics, (ii) development of policy concepts, and (iii) dissemination of research results and concepts to the interested public. Terms of use: Documents in D I S C U S S I O N P A P E R S E R I E SIZA Discussion Papers often represent preliminary work and are circulated to encourage discussion. Citation of such a paper should account for its provisional character. A revised version may be available directly from the author. In response to concerns over the vulnerability of the young in the wake of Indonesia's 1997-1998 economic crises, the Government of Indonesia implemented a supplementary feeding program to support early childhood nutritional status. This paper exploits heterogeneity in duration of program exposure to evaluate the impact of the program on children aged 6 to 60 months. By examining differences in nutritional status of treated younger children and a placebo group of older children, the analysis finds that the program improved the nutritional status of treated children, and most significantly, led to 7 and 15 percent declines in rates of moderate and severe stunting, respectively, for children aged 12 to 24 months who were exposed to the program for at least 12 months over two years.JEL Classification: I12, I18, O15, O20, O22

Nutrition-sensitive interventions and programmes: how can they help to accelerate progress in improving maternal and child nutrition?

“…103 Even when targeted towards overall household subsistence, aid during disasters can prevent major deteriorations in child undernutrition. 104,105 Agebased targeting of fortifi ed foods can help prevent undernutrition and complement eff orts to tackle cases of severe acute malnutrition with specially formulated products. The nutritional eff ects of emergency deliveries can be Social safety nets can reduce poverty and increase use of health and education services.…”

Impacts of in-kind transfer to household’s budget proportion: Evidence from early reformation in Indonesia

“…It is empirically reported food insecurity can cause economic and political instability. Lack of food intake at individual level will influence their health and productivity, which is observable in the short term, while in the long run this condition will affect the quality of human resources (Giles & Satriawan 2015). Every country is trying to make the best food security system.…”

“…Thus, intake of energy in the form of carbohydrates for the poor has increased. Increased energy will impact on the productivity increase of the poor households (Thomas et al, 2006) as well as the improvement of children's health (Giles & Satriawan, 2015). Therefore, Raskin program needs to be continued because it provides great benefits for the poor in the present and future (through the outcomes of children of poor households).…”

How Can Safety Nets Contribute to Economic Growth?

“…Other strategies such as selling assets when prices are low or reducing investment in nutrition or schooling can contribute to poverty traps (Carter and Barrett, 2006). Some programs that have successfully protect investments have been designed explicitly as a response to shocks such as Indonesia's scholarship program designed in the wake of the 1997-8 economic crisis (Cameron, 2009) or that country's efforts to protect nutrition (Giles and Satriawan, 2010). But other programs that are more broadly designed to address chronic poverty may also protect assets or investments.…”