Résumé

This UNDP Policy Dialogue Paper examines existing social security policies and analyzes the relationship between

social security, consumption and income. The paper finds that when social policy is considered as a whole-including

user fees as well as transfers-current policies do not contribute to the important goals of reducing poverty and

inequality.

Although poor households do receive transfers, they pay out equal or greater amounts in user fees to receive basic

services like health and education.