Browsing by Author "Das, Narayan"

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A good mix against ultra-poverty? Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) in Bangladesh
(Wiley Online Library, 2021-07-13) Rahman, Atiya; Bhattacharjee, Anindita; Das, Narayan
Published in the Review of Developmental Economics, the existing evidence from the article shows that programs that provide grants to productive assets along with training to very poor women increase labor supply, earnings, and consumption. In contrast, evidence on the effect of microcredit on these outcomes is mixed. In this paper, we examine the effect of a hybrid of the two approaches—credit and grant—on the livelihoods of the ultra-poor in Bangladesh. A randomized evaluation of the hybrid intervention shows that it increases labor supply of working-age women, household income, productive assets, savings, and consumption expenditures. The benefit-cost ratio of the intervention is estimated to be 8.47.
A good mix against ultra-poverty? Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) in Bangladesh
(Wiley, 2021-07-13) Rahman, Atiya; Bhattacharjee, Anindita; Das, Narayan
Existing evidence shows that programs that provide grants to productive assets along with training to very poor women increase labor supply, earnings, and consumption. In contrast, evidence on the effect of microcredit on these outcomes is mixed. In this paper, we examine the effect of a hybrid of the two approaches—credit and grant—on the livelihoods of the ultra-poor in Bangladesh. A randomized evaluation of the hybrid intervention shows that it increases labor supply of working-age women, household income, productive assets, savings, and consumption expenditures. The benefit–cost ratio of the intervention is estimated to be 8.47.
A re-examination of the relationship between plot size and productivity: the case of Bangladesh
(The Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 2025-01) Das, Narayan; Nisat, Rafia; Rahman, Atiya
Recent evidence shows that the inverse relationship between plot size and productivity is driven by an edge effect or by the over-reporting of production by farmers on smaller plots. This paper re-examines the relationship between plot size and productivity in the context of Bangladesh. The research further examines whether the effect of plot size is different across rice and non-rice crops.
Economic recovery of the new poor created by COVID-19: Evidence from Bangladesh
(Taylor and Francis, 2023-11-06) Gomes, Mohima; Jahan, Nusrat; Shatil, Tanvir; Tahsin, Nabila; Das, Narayan; Matin, Imran
The COVID-19 shock resulted in a large number of people becoming newly poor in Bangladesh, for whom recovery was slow and difficult. In response, BRAC implemented a nationwide program – credit, business planning support, and mentoring – targeting the economic recovery of the new poor. This paper estimates its impact using a mixed method and finds that the program had a significant positive effect on employment, income, and assets, indicating a faster economic recovery of program participants. The learnings from this program can have major policy implications for future disaster responses targeting livelihood recovery, specifically during the time-sensitive transitory phase from relief to long-term development.
Food price inflation may slow down poverty reduction
(The Financial Express, 2021-11-23) Adiba, Afsana; Das, Narayan
Graduation approach to poverty reduction in the humanitarian context: Evidence from Bangladesh
(Wiley, 2023-01-18) Rahman, Atiya; Bhattacharjee, Anindita; Nisat, Rafia; Das, Narayan
Increasing forcibly displaced populations worldwide are adversely affecting the poorest host communities' livelihoods. Livelihood programmes can reduce this tension by addressing host communities' skills and capital constraints. In this paper, we examine the effect of a customised version of BRAC's Ultra-Poor Graduation (UPG) programme on the livelihoods of the host communities of Rohingya refugees. We find that the programme increases labour supply in self-employment of working-age men and women, household income, food expenditure and productive asset. Further, we find some weak evidence that the programme decreases the tension between hosts and Rohingya refugees.
Group versus individual coaching for rural social protection programs: evidence from Uganda, Philippines, and Bangladesh
(National Bureau of Economic Research, 2025) Beam, Emily A.; Brune, Lasse; Das, Narayan; Dercon, Stefan; Goldberg, Nathanael; Haque, Rozina; Karlan, Dean; Khan, Maliha; Parkerson, Doug; Pople, Ashley; Sawada, Yasuyuki; Udry, Christopher; Zizzamia, Rocco
Multifaceted social protection programs in low-income countries often include both capital grants and informational and behavioral support on the premise that households face simultaneous and multiple frictions. To tackle informational and behavioral constraints, programs typically deploy either individual or group coaching visits from field agents. The relative efficacy of individual versus group coaching could provide insights into the underlying mechanism through which information and behavioral support change household decisions. However, in three similar randomized evaluations in Uganda, the Philippines, and Bangladesh, we find no differences in efficacy. Given its 15–20% lower costs, group coaching is more cost-effective.
How much can asset transfers help the poorest? The Five Cs of community-level development and BRAC’s ultra-poor program
(Brooks World Poverty Institute, 2010-10) Krishna, Anirudh; Poghosyan, Meri; Das, Narayan
We develop a framework for assessing community-level development programs, building upon five related elements that are centrally important: confidence, cohesion, capacity, connections and cash (the five ‘Cs’). We use this framework for evaluating the impacts over a six-year period (2002-2008) of an innovative program, implemented in rural Bangladesh, which has assisted extremely poor households, literally the poorest of the poor. Asset transfers constitute the centrepiece of this multidimensional program, which also supports training, organization building, cash supports, microfinance, and so on. The provision of a substantial dose of assets has helped produce very positive results by and large. Impressive income gains have been achieved (and sustained) by the majority of assisted households. But vulnerability to downturns on account of negative events, such as illnesses and house damage, has resulted in asset losses for several assisted households. Better social protection measures will help complete the good work commenced by the asset transfer plan.
Process evaluation of a disability-inclusive employment programme: examining the design and implementation of STAR+
(Oxford Development Studies, 2024) Shatil, Tanvir; Carew, Mark T.; Chowdhury, Soujannita; Biswas, Dipika; Adiba, Afsana; Banks, Lena Morgon; Shakespeare, Tom; Das, Narayan
This study reports the initial findings of a process evaluation of a disability-inclusive employment programme, STAR+, being implemented across Bangladesh. The study interrogates the design of STAR+ and the structures and processes by which it was delivered. Findings reveal an important role of early involvement of disability-focused organizations in intervention planning. The study further discusses adaptations made during STAR+ delivery. First, in some project areas, extra resources were available to appoint additional staff to support disability inclusion. Second, implementers relied upon family members to support youth with disabilities during workplace and classroom training. Lastly, STAR+ implementers ensure the right employers are selected by the programme, in some cases engaging in additional ad-hoc selection processes to onboard more altruistic individuals. Results are discussed in terms of programmatic and policy implications.
The effects of job training on labour market outcomes: evidence from Bangladesh
(Journal of Development Studies, 2025-06) Adiba, Afsana; Ahmed, Shakil; Das, Narayan; Islam, Md. Karimul; Mozumder, Tanvir Ahmed; Siddiquee, Muhammad Shahadat Hossain
Youth unemployment has been a decisive policy concern for both developing and developed economies, and many labour market interventions (for example, job training) have been put in place to bring unemployed youth into productive activities. This study, supported by BRAC Skills Development Programme, conducts a randomised controlled trial of a job training programme that provides on-the-job and classroom training to disadvantaged youth living in urban areas of Bangladesh.
The impact of entrepreneurship training and credit on the labour market outcomes of disadvantaged young people
(Taylor and Francis, 2024-02-23) Khan, Tahsina Naz; Bhattacharjee, Anindita; Das, Narayan; N. Hossain, Marzuk A.; Rahman, Atiya; Tabassum, Asma
This paper estimates the impact of a program providing classroom and on-the-job entrepreneurship training followed by the provision of a loan to disadvantaged youth. We find that the program increases employment by seven percentage points and income by 21 per cent. The impact is larger for women than men. Furthermore, the results demonstrate an increase in the propensity to save by 17 percentage points with an increase in both the amount of loan taken and outstanding. Nevertheless, the effect of the training component of the program shows no statistically significant impact on income and hours worked. However, the additional impact of the loan component is notable, increasing hours worked as well as earnings.
The impact of livestock asset transfers on the livelihoods of the ultra-poor
(Taylor and Francis, 2022-02-22) Das, Narayan; Kamruzzaman, Md.; Ahmed, Md. Shakil
This paper estimates the impacts of Livestock Asset Transfers on the livelihoods of the ultra-poor in West Bengal, India. The programme provides the female members of ultra-poor households with livestock assets as grants. We find that the intervention increases per capita monthly income by Rs 1061 (122% increase). It also increases the food expenditures of households and enables them to secure enough food to eat at least two meals a day. Furthermore, the programme also increases the number/amount of owned livestock assets, poultry, and cultivable lands amid the treatment households.
The impact of microcredit on household welfare: evidence from Bangladesh during the COVID-19 pandemic
(Journal of Development Studies, 2025-06) Arman, Mohammad Raied; Das, Narayan; Mahmood, Sakib; Rahman, Semab; Rahman, Khandker Wahedur
The onslaught of COVID-19 and the subsequent economic fallout have exacerbated global inequality, with the poor bearing a disproportionate brunt of the pandemic. This paper investigates whether access to credit—in the form of microloans—helped cushion the shock induced by COVID-19 and improved the welfare of poor households. Using survey data on microloan borrowers in Bangladesh, the analysis examines how access to microfinance affected clients during the COVID-19 crisis. A difference-in-differences (DID) methodology is employed to compare borrowers who received loans after the outbreak of the pandemic with those who did not. The results suggest that receiving microloans leads to increased business earnings, improved food security, and higher food expenditure. These effects are mainly driven by recipients of business-focused loans, while the impact of loans targeting poverty reduction appears limited.
Vocational training: Integral policy measure for reducing youth unemployment
(The Financial Express, 2022-01-06) Roy, Joydeep Sinha; Das, Narayan; Islam, Tanjim-Ul