Politics & Governance / Public Policy / Social Welfare & Safety Nets

Did Mexico's Cash Transfer Program Really Lift Kids Out of Poverty? The Shocking Long-Term Results

Susan W. Parker, Tom Vogl

In 1997, Mexico launched Progresa, a bold experiment: give poor families cash, but only if kids go to school and get health checks. Critics called it a handout. But 13 years later, researchers Susan W. Parker and Tom Vogl dug into the data. Their study, published as a National Bureau of Economic Research working paper, reveals stunning results. For girls, the program boosted education, job prospects, and household wealth drastically. For boys? Not so much. This video breaks down the evidence, challenges assumptions about welfare, and shows how a simple idea can reshape an entire generation. Watch to understand what really works in fighting poverty.