Skip to main content

Did Social Protection Assist with Progress Towards the Millennium Development Goals?

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Moving from the Millennium to the Sustainable Development Goals

Abstract

In this chapter, the authors advance discussions on the relevance of social protection as discussed in the literature and proceed to examine if social protection has played a role in achieving the progress made towards the MDGs. They argue that despite anecdotal evidence promoting social protection as crucial in assisting the vulnerable and poor manage risk, raise human capital and improve their livelihoods, there is an absence of empirical evidence to substantiate these claims. Using data for 101 developing countries, the authors show that social protection coverage is positively associated with progress towards many of the MDGs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Barrientos, A. (2011). Social protection and poverty. International Journal of Social Welfare, 20, 240–249.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barrientos, A., & Hulme, D. (2009). Social protection for the poor and poorest in developing countries: Reflections on a quiet revolution. Oxford Development Studies, 37(4), 439–456.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cecchini, S. (2014). Social protection, poverty and inequality: A comparative perspective. Journal of Southeast Asian Economies, 31(1), 18–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cecchini, S., Filgueira, F., Martínez, R., & Rossel, R. (2015). Towards universal social protection Latin American pathways and policy tools. Santiago: Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

    Google Scholar 

  • Elkins, M. (2014). Embedding the vulnerable into the millennium development goals: Social protection in poverty reduction strategy papers. Journal of International Development, 26(6), 853–874. https://doi.org/10.1002/jid.2984

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, F. (2012). ‘We are all poor here’: Economic difference, social diviseviness and targeting cash transfers in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Journal of Development Studies, 48(2), 201–214.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fiszbein, A., Kanbur, R., & Yemtsov, R. (2014). Social protection and poverty reduction: Global patterns and some targets. World Development, 61, 167–177. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2014.04.010

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fukuda-Parr, S. (2010). Reducing inequality—The missing MDG: A content review of PRSPs and bilateral donor statements. IDS Bulletin, 41(1), 26–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guillaumont, P., & Chauvet, L. (2001). Aid and performance: A reassessment. Journal of Development Studies, 37(6), 66–87.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leo, B., & Barmeier, J. (2010). Who are the MDG trailblazers? A new MDG progress index. Center for Global Development Working Paper 222. Retrieved from https://ssrn.com/abstract=1694138

  • Mesa-Lago, C. (2012). The performance of social security contributory and tax-financed pensions in Central America, and the effects of the global crisis. International Social Security Review, 65(1), 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-246X.2011.01417.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Niño-Zarazúa, M., Barrientos, A., Hickey, S., & Hulme, D. (2012). Social protection in Sub-Saharan Africa: Getting the politics right. World Development, 40(1), 163–176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2011.04.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ortiz, I., Fajth, G., Yablonski, J., & Rabi, A. (2012). Social protection: Accellerating the MDGs with equity. In I. Ortiz, L. M. Daniels, & S. Engilbertsdottir (Eds.), Child poverty and inequality: New perspectives. New York: UNICEF.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peng, I., & Wong, J. (2010). East Asia. In F. G. Castles, S. Leibfried, J. Lewis, H. Obinger, & C. Pierson (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of the welfare state (pp. 656–670). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Soares, F. V., Soares, S. S. D., Medeiros, M., & Osório, R. G. (2006). Cash transfer programmes in Brazil: Impacts on inequality and poverty. Working Papers 21, International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Meg Elkins .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Appendix

Appendix

Table 11.6 List of countries

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Elkins, M., Feeny, S., Awaworyi Churchill, S. (2020). Did Social Protection Assist with Progress Towards the Millennium Development Goals?. In: Awaworyi Churchill, S. (eds) Moving from the Millennium to the Sustainable Development Goals. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-1556-9_11

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-1556-9_11

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-15-1555-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-15-1556-9

  • eBook Packages: Economics and FinanceEconomics and Finance (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics