The effects of social pensions on nutrition-related health outcomes of the poor: Quasi-experimental evidence from Peru

Noelia Bernal; Javier Olivera; Marc Suhrcke

doi:10.1002/hec.4806

The effects of social pensions on nutrition-related health outcomes of the poor: Quasi-experimental evidence from Peru

Noelia Bernal, Javier Olivera, Marc Suhrcke

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Resumen

Este artículo explota la discontinuidad alrededor de un índice de bienestar para evaluar el impacto del programa de pensiones sociales Pension 65 de Perú en los resultados de salud relacionados con la nutrición entre individuos ancianos pobres. En general, encontramos evidencia de cómo un programa relativamente económico puede producir mejoras en la anemia y los marcadores de riesgo de mortalidad relacionados con la nutrición. Los efectos parecen ser impulsados por mecanismos subyacentes plausibles, incluida una mejor calidad nutricional, así como mayores gastos en alimentos y utilización de servicios de salud. Estos efectos positivos son contrarrestados solo modestamente por signos tentativos de un mayor riesgo de obesidad entre las mujeres a corto plazo (<2 años), pero no más allá de este plazo. A medida que el programa evoluciona aún más, los responsables de las políticas deben enfrentar el desafío de seguir asegurando los beneficios para la salud en términos de reducir los déficits nutricionales evitando posibles efectos secundarios indeseables en términos de sobrenutrición en Perú. Los hallazgos pueden servir para resaltar los beneficios más amplios de políticas de pensiones similares para los pobres también en otros países de ingresos medios, mucho más allá de los efectos inmediatos de bienestar económico para los que las políticas han sido diseñadas principalmente.

Idioma original	Inglés
Páginas (desde-hasta)	971-991
Número de páginas	21
Publicación	Health Economics (United Kingdom)
Volumen	33
N.º	5
Fecha en línea anticipada	28 ene. 2024
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1002/hec.4806
Estado	Publicación electrónica previa a su impresión - 28 ene. 2024

Nota bibliográfica

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Palabras clave

Envejecimiento
Salud
Nutrición
Pobreza
Pensiones sociales

ODS de las Naciones Unidas

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10.1002/hec.4806

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title = "The effects of social pensions on nutrition-related health outcomes of the poor: Quasi-experimental evidence from Peru",

abstract = "This paper exploits the discontinuity around a welfare index of eligibility to assess the impact of Peru's social pension program Pension 65 on nutrition-related health outcomes among elderly poor individuals. Overall, we find evidence of how a relatively inexpensive program can produce improvements in anemia and nutrition-related mortality risk markers. The effects appear to be driven by plausible underlying mechanisms, including via improved nutritional quality as well as greater food expenditures and healthcare utilization. These positive effects are only modestly countered by tentative signs of an increased obesity risk among women in the short term (<2 years), but not beyond this term. As the program evolves further, policymakers need to confront the challenge of continuing to ensure the health benefits in terms of reducing nutritional deficits while avoiding potential undesirable side effects in terms of over-nutrition in Peru. The findings may serve to highlight the wider benefits of similar pension policies for the poor also in other middle income countries, well beyond the immediate economic welfare effects that the policies have primarily been designed for.",

keywords = "Aging, Health, Nutrition, Poverty, Social pensions, Envejecimiento, Salud, Nutrici{\'o}n, Pobreza, Pensiones sociales",

author = "Noelia Bernal and Javier Olivera and Marc Suhrcke",

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doi = "10.1002/hec.4806",

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T2 - Quasi-experimental evidence from Peru

AU - Bernal, Noelia

AU - Olivera, Javier

AU - Suhrcke, Marc

PY - 2024/1/28

Y1 - 2024/1/28

N2 - This paper exploits the discontinuity around a welfare index of eligibility to assess the impact of Peru's social pension program Pension 65 on nutrition-related health outcomes among elderly poor individuals. Overall, we find evidence of how a relatively inexpensive program can produce improvements in anemia and nutrition-related mortality risk markers. The effects appear to be driven by plausible underlying mechanisms, including via improved nutritional quality as well as greater food expenditures and healthcare utilization. These positive effects are only modestly countered by tentative signs of an increased obesity risk among women in the short term (<2 years), but not beyond this term. As the program evolves further, policymakers need to confront the challenge of continuing to ensure the health benefits in terms of reducing nutritional deficits while avoiding potential undesirable side effects in terms of over-nutrition in Peru. The findings may serve to highlight the wider benefits of similar pension policies for the poor also in other middle income countries, well beyond the immediate economic welfare effects that the policies have primarily been designed for.

AB - This paper exploits the discontinuity around a welfare index of eligibility to assess the impact of Peru's social pension program Pension 65 on nutrition-related health outcomes among elderly poor individuals. Overall, we find evidence of how a relatively inexpensive program can produce improvements in anemia and nutrition-related mortality risk markers. The effects appear to be driven by plausible underlying mechanisms, including via improved nutritional quality as well as greater food expenditures and healthcare utilization. These positive effects are only modestly countered by tentative signs of an increased obesity risk among women in the short term (<2 years), but not beyond this term. As the program evolves further, policymakers need to confront the challenge of continuing to ensure the health benefits in terms of reducing nutritional deficits while avoiding potential undesirable side effects in terms of over-nutrition in Peru. The findings may serve to highlight the wider benefits of similar pension policies for the poor also in other middle income countries, well beyond the immediate economic welfare effects that the policies have primarily been designed for.

KW - Aging

KW - Health

KW - Nutrition

KW - Poverty

KW - Social pensions

KW - Envejecimiento

KW - Salud

KW - Nutrición

KW - Pobreza

KW - Pensiones sociales

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U2 - 10.1002/hec.4806

DO - 10.1002/hec.4806

M3 - Article in a journal

SN - 1057-9230

VL - 33

SP - 971

EP - 991

JO - Health Economics (United Kingdom)

JF - Health Economics (United Kingdom)

IS - 5

ER -

The effects of social pensions on nutrition-related health outcomes of the poor: Quasi-experimental evidence from Peru

Resumen

Nota bibliográfica

Palabras clave

ODS de las Naciones Unidas

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