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Given labor informality in developing countries, addressing employment shocks is challenging. We
study Indonesia’s new approach for on-demand online applications for temporary cash assistance and
online job training. Through 20 lotteries over two years, 11 million beneficiaries were selected. In
nationwide, representative surveys matched with administrative data, most beneficiaries report not
receiving the assistance, with no detectable impacts on employment or consumption. In contrast, survey
data from applicants with working phones reveal high reported take-up and higher incomes. The results
suggest that while flexible, on-demand assistance has potential, design features that allow for flexibility
could hinder receipt and, thus, impact.
