In Bolivia, households receiving a social pension in poor rural areas experienced an average increase in food consumption of almost 165% of the value of the transfer. Without access to markets, or if prices are raised, the purchasing power of cash transfers is significantly lower. The challenge is to maintain their real value when markets are volatile. There is very little evidence on the effect of long-term cash transfers in economic downturns or crises, but in emergencies, short-term transfers can help to increase access (and utilisation) of food (Bailey & Hedlund, 2012).