Uh, that's not what I meant, though I guess my comment wasn't clear enough.
I'm not saying they should change the criteria to food security/malnutrition/etc. I'm saying that,
1) suppose the criteria was food-related; people wouldn't likely game the system by voluntarily not getting food because, well, eating is pretty high on people's list of desires.
(there are food-related metrics like "reported food consumption" and "malnutrition" that are used to assess the performance of GiveDirectly and charity/aid/welfare programs in general. They are well-defined, even if subject to manipulation. In any case, I understand that the roof criteria is more practical at the enrolment phase)
2) analogously, people aren't likely gaming the system by keeping non-metal roofs, as having good shelter is also very high on most people's list. In fact, one of the most common ways recipients spend the grant money is getting an iron roof.
Also, it's not like having a non-metal roof automatically entitles you to a grant, as this is isn't a nation-wide government program.
GiveDirectly is considering changing requirements not because they think they're including too many (relatively) high-income families with non-metal roofs, but because they might be excluding some people who live in metal-roof houses but are still poor.
I'm not saying they should change the criteria to food security/malnutrition/etc. I'm saying that,
1) suppose the criteria was food-related; people wouldn't likely game the system by voluntarily not getting food because, well, eating is pretty high on people's list of desires.
(there are food-related metrics like "reported food consumption" and "malnutrition" that are used to assess the performance of GiveDirectly and charity/aid/welfare programs in general. They are well-defined, even if subject to manipulation. In any case, I understand that the roof criteria is more practical at the enrolment phase)
2) analogously, people aren't likely gaming the system by keeping non-metal roofs, as having good shelter is also very high on most people's list. In fact, one of the most common ways recipients spend the grant money is getting an iron roof.
Also, it's not like having a non-metal roof automatically entitles you to a grant, as this is isn't a nation-wide government program.
GiveDirectly is considering changing requirements not because they think they're including too many (relatively) high-income families with non-metal roofs, but because they might be excluding some people who live in metal-roof houses but are still poor.