Access to justice and social protection

Governments in developing countries are expanding social protection policies, yet coverage remains imperfect. This paper explores how the justice system influences coverage and the consequences of unequal access to justice for targeting. Using administrative microdata from Brazil, we document how two distinct groups—displaced workers and the elderly poor—resort to the courts to secure social protection. Using the justice system for this purpose correlates with key individual characteristics—notably income and geographical distance from courts—suggesting that barriers to accessing justice influence policy targeting.