Does Cash Transfer Promote Market Citizenship?

Abstract

Abstract: The most obvious conclusion of this book is that there is no single Turkish experience. Nor can we reach definitive once-and-for-all conclusions about the impact of CT as an instrument of social assistance. Comparison among our cases highlights variables grounded in local conditions and policy design that help determine the outcome of CT projects, and whose relevance extends far beyond Turkey. Among these are human and financial resources, but also of the capacity for local knowledge. When these allow consistent and appropriate targeting, CT can provide an important step in the direction of inclusion and equality in a market context. It would be misleading, however, to believe that this instrument on its own is sufficient. At the core of market citizenship is the dignity conferred not only by paying one’s own way, but also by earning one’s own way: CT instruments work best as a complement to, not replacement for, access to the official labor market.