Abstract:

This analysis focuses on two social programs managed by the Joint Institute for Social Assistance (IMAS) in order to reduce poverty: Avancemos and Bienestar Familiar. The main objective of this study is to identify the effectiveness in allocating benefits of such programs, in order to correct the mechanisms that have a) allowed non-poor individuals receive benefits and b) prevented eligible households to access the benefits. Data from the National Household Survey points out important leakages and a limited coverage of the target population, which highlights the need to adjust targeting mechanisms, so that the public social investment targeted to selected programs has an impact on reducing poverty in Costa Rica.

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