Purpose

Since the last decade, debates regarding the efficiency and effectiveness of the forms of transfer, i.e. in the form of in-kind or cash transfers, have been gaining momentum. This paper aims to explore the preferences revealed by the beneficiaries, the role of contextual conditions in moulding these preferences, factors associated with the transfer scheme that defines the preferences and the rationale behind such responses.

Design/methodology/approach

The study conducted involves primary data collected from an Indian state, Odisha. 308 beneficiaries of the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) were interviewed concerning specific objectives in a rural district (Mayurbhanj) and another highly urbanised district (Khordha).

Findings

The comparative results show that the strength of the contextual conditions significantly influences the preferences of the beneficiaries in the rural district as compared to the effect on the beneficiaries of the urban district. Education seems to have an insignificant impact in rural areas. However, income and standard of living have positive significant effects on shaping the preferences for cash or in-kind transfers.

Originality/value

Examining the strength of the contextual conditions and emphasising beneficiaries' perspectives would stimulate a better understanding of the implementation of the proposed quasi-Universal Basic Income. The study would hence, be instrumental in dealing with the transition towards cash transfers in the Indian context where the co-responsibility of both stakeholders, the government and the beneficiaries, should be given equal weightage.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-03-2023-0158

中文翻译：

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印度的现金和实物转移：背景、偏好和证据

目的

自过去十年以来，关于转移形式（即实物或现金转移形式）的效率和有效性的争论日益激烈。本文旨在探讨受益人所揭示的偏好、背景条件在塑造这些偏好中的作用、与定义偏好的转移计划相关的因素以及此类反应背后的基本原理。

设计/方法论/途径

这项研究涉及从印度奥里萨邦收集的原始数据。就农村地区 (Mayurbhanj) 和另一个高度城市化地区 (Khordha) 的具体目标采访了目标公共分配系统 (TPDS) 的 308 名受益人。

发现

比较结果表明，与城市地区受益人的影响相比，背景条件的强度显着影响农村地区受益人的偏好。教育对农村地区的影响似乎微不足道。然而，收入和生活水平对现金或实物转移的偏好具有显着的积极影响。

原创性/价值

审查背景条件的强度并强调受益人的观点将有助于更好地理解拟议的准全民基本收入的实施情况。因此，这项研究将有助于解决印度背景下向现金转移的过渡，在印度背景下，政府和受益人等利益相关者的共同责任应得到同等重视。

同行评审

本文的同行评审历史记录位于：https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-03-2023-0158