(2005-09-21) Conditional Cash Transfers

The Economist on Conditional Cash Transfer programs in South America ("invented" in Brazil), a type of Welfare that's conditioned on certain behaviors (e.g. keeping all the kids in school until a certain age (Educating Kids), going to the health clinic (HealthCare) every so often, etc.). Cash transfers might generate some jobs, but in Ocara locals say that employment will come only when Clean Water does, and that depends on investment by the hard-pressed federal government.