Merits and Demerits of Social Assistance Programs to Poor People

Abstract

Social assistance programs have increasingly expanded and become a vital tool for poverty alleviation and promoting equitable society, particularly in developing countries. The merits of these programs are well documented in the literature including human capital development, poverty reduction and economic stability and growth. However, such programs are not without demerits; critics argue that social assistance programs have created dependence syndrome among developing countries, implementation challenges due to poor design, low coverage, and limited impacts on the community. This paper discusses the merits and demerits of social assistance programs in developing countries, offering suggestions on how these programs can be refined to foster equilibrium between supporting poor people and promoting sustainable socio and economic self-sufficiency.