How Does a Rural Poverty Alleviation Program Affect Parents’ Aspirations About Their Children? Evidence from BRAC-TUP in Bangladesh

Abstract

This paper analyses the unintended effects of a randomised controlled trial in Bangladesh targeting the ultra-poor on parental occupational aspirations for their children. Because significant aspirational gaps exist between poor and wealthy households, as well as between boys and girls, this study analyses whether a graduation-type program can reduce these gaps. Because the intervention bundles different services including the transfer of a productive asset, training, coaching, and a monthly stipend, this research explores which components of the intervention might be driving changes in aspirations. Further, it analyses whether higher aspirations are linked to better educational outcomes. Using a difference-in-differences strategy, the results indicate that the intervention reduces the aspirational gaps for boys only, whereas for girls the intervention could be reinforcing traditional gender roles.