Can We Work Together? Evidence from an Experiment in Slum Settlements in Brazil

• In Event: The Consequences of Credit Claiming (Pre-Recorded)

Abstract

Encouraging citizens to mobilize and participate in the design and implementation of development projects carries a lot of promise, especially in contexts where state presence is scarce and inconsistent such as slum settlements. The potential gains of such community-driven solutions are particularly acute in contexts of crisis such as the those created by the Covid-19 pandemic. Under which conditions can community-driven programs reduce the adversities induced by the spread of Covid-19? We study whether community-driven programs can increase compliance with measures to reduce risks of transmission and can alleviate the socioeconomic distress induced by the spread of Covid-19. Through a randomized controlled trial of an NGO-led program with 611 families in 25 Brazilian slum settlements, we find that even successful community-driven program fails to induce actions to reduce the pandemic's fallout. The program increases trust in Covid-19 related information from community leaders, yet it fails to increase compliance with Covid-19 contagion mitigation measures, to increase solidarity among community members, and to bolster individuals claim-making in periods of need. We find that this result partly stems from individuals involved in clientelistic relationships who are distrustful of community leaders and reticent to ask them for help. Furthermore, we find that our program strengthens solidarity among individuals had previous connections through friendships and especially members of the same religious organizations. Overall, our results suggest that community-driven programs may have limited impact in creating solidarity and compliance to health measures due to structural inequities and political capture existent in the lives of these communities.

Authors

• Natalia Salgado Bueno, Emory University

• George Avelino, FGV-SP

• Ciro Biderman