Mexico boosts social mobility by paying children to go to school

Mexico's biggest anti-poverty strategy is based on paying families to keep their children in school. The Prospera program – formerly Opportunidades – targets the country's poorest families for incentivised benefits tied to school attendance, vaccinations or trips to the doctor. Prospera has increased school attendance by 20% among girls and 10% among boys, and has significantly improved child health. Payments start at about $10.50 per month for children in the third grade of primary school and can be as high as $58 for boys and $66 for girls in the third year of secondary school.