Who Receives Targeted Benefits in Transition? The Effect of Household Characteristics on Take-Up Rates in Russia's Child Allowance Programme

Abstract

This article addresses the issue of low targeting efficiency of the Russian child allowance programme. We look at non-take-up of eligible households and inclusion of the noneligible, and show that household characteristics are significant determinants of the programme take-up, as they affect households' earning potential and expected level of benefit. We believe that the results of the research give useful suggestions on how targeting of child allowances can be improved in Russia. Downloaded

Into the Promised Land: Modelling the Role of Take-Up Agents in Realising Welfare Rights

“…As such, they can accumulate much knowledge on how rights are realised in practice: who exactly is entitled, what is the most effective way to claim, and what are the levels of flexibility and leverage in the process. In this sense, take-up agents are aimed at mitigating the learning and information costs of the claiming process (Hernanz et al, 2004;Alexandrova and Grishina, 2007;Herd and Moynihan, 2019). The take-up agents' organisational capacities and their status as repeat players also allow them to build personal and institutional networks and use power to pressure the administrators.…”