Authentication and Targeted Transfers: Experimental Evidence from India

In developing countries, the state often has limited capacity to effectively target transfers. We examine the effects of enhanced authentication technology on the de facto performance of India’s largest targeted transfer scheme, the Public Distribution System. We conduct an experiment at scale with the state government of Jharkhand, randomizing the rollout of biometric authentication in large units and within a representative sample.

• Department of Economics
• PAUL NIEHAUS
• UC San Diego
• Authentication and Targeted Transfers: Experimental Evidence from India