What Aspects of Formality Do Workers Value? Evidence from a Choice Experiment in Bangladesh

B-Tier
Journal: World Bank Economic Review
Year: 2021
Volume: 35
Issue: 2
Pages: 303-327

Authors (4)

Minhaj Mahmud (Asian Development Bank) Italo A Gutierrez (not in RePEc) Krishna B Kumar (not in RePEc) Shanthi Nataraj (RAND)

Score contribution per author:

0.503 = (α=2.01 / 4 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

This study uses a choice experiment among 2,000 workers in Bangladesh to elicit willingness to pay (WTP) for job attributes: a contract, termination notice, working hours, paid leave, and a pension fund. Using a stated preference method allows calculation of WTP for benefits in this setting, despite the lack of data on worker transitions, and the fact that many workers are self-employed, which makes it difficult to use revealed preference methods. Workers highly value job stability: the average worker would be willing to forgo a 27 percent increase in income to obtain a one-year contract (relative to no contract), or to forgo a 12 percent increase to obtain thirty days of termination notice. There is substantial heterogeneity in WTP by type of employment and gender: women value shorter working hours more than men, while government workers place a higher value on contracts than do private-sector employees.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:oup:wbecrv:v:35:y:2021:i:2:p:303-327.
Journal Field
Development
Author Count
4
Added to Database
2026-01-25