Changing Households’ Investments and Aspirations through Social Interactions : Evidence from a Randomized Transfer Program

Macours, Karen ; Vakis, Renos

关键词: AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS;    ASSET BASE;    ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENT;    ATTRITION;    BANK POLICY;   

DOI  :  10.1596/1813-9450-5137
RP-ID  :  WPS5137

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

Low aspirations can limit households investments and contribute to sustained poverty. Vice versa,increased aspirations can lead to investment and upwardmobility. Yet how aspirations are formed is not always wellunderstood. This paper analyzes the role of socialinteractions in determining aspirations in the context of aprogram aimed at increasing households' investments.The causal effect of social interactions is identifiedthrough the randomized assignment of leaders and otherbeneficiaries to three different interventions within eachtreatment community. Social interactions are found to affecthouseholdsattitudes toward the future and to amplifyprogram impacts on investments in human capital andproductive activities. The empirical evidence indicates thatcommunication with motivated and successful nearby leaderscan lead to higher aspirations and corresponding investment behavior.