We employ a computable general equilibrium approach to examine the effects
of alternative food aid distribution schemes for drought-response food aid
to Mozambique. Alternative schemes have very distinct impacts on household
welfare and prices. Compared with monetization of food aid by government, d
irect distribution to households (by population shares) strongly benefits r
ural households. Even assuming that government cannot target food aid stric
tly at drought-stricken rural people, our results indicate that, when impro
ving household welfare is the primary goal of the food aid, direct distribu
tion of food aid to households is preferred. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd.
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