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The Psychosocial Value of Employment : Evidence from a Refugee Camp

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  • Hussam,Reshmaan Nahar
  • Kelley,Erin Munro
  • Lane,Gregory
  • Zahra,Fatima

Abstract

Employment may be important to well-being for reasons beyond its role as an income source.This paper presents a causal estimate of the psychosocial value of employment in refugee camps in Bangladesh. Thestudy involves 745 individuals in a field experiment with three arms: a control arm, a weekly cash arm, and anemployment arm of equal value. The findings show that employment raises psychosocial well-being substantially morethan cash alone, and 66 percent of the employed are willing to forego cash payments to continue working temporarily forfree. Despite material poverty, the individuals in the sample both experience and recognize the nonmonetary,psychosocial value of employment.

Suggested Citation

  • Hussam,Reshmaan Nahar & Kelley,Erin Munro & Lane,Gregory & Zahra,Fatima, 2022. "The Psychosocial Value of Employment : Evidence from a Refugee Camp," Policy Research Working Paper Series 10138, The World Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:10138
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    References listed on IDEAS

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