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The Market for Training Services: A Demand Experiment with Bangladeshi Garment Factories

Author

Listed:
  • Rocco Macchiavello
  • Atonu Rabbani
  • Christopher Woodruff

Abstract

We marketed a training program for lower level managers (line supervisors) to large factories in the Bangladeshi ready-made garment industry. Take-up of the program (even for a free slot) was low, due to intense production pressures, fire-fighting and concerns over retention of trained workers. Take-up is quite insensitive to pricing. There was higher interest and demand in training modules aimed at improving production processes and quality, rather than human resources and social compliance. Since the program was priced close to a commercially viable rate, it might be possible to develop a market provided they could be proved to be effective.

Suggested Citation

  • Rocco Macchiavello & Atonu Rabbani & Christopher Woodruff, 2015. "The Market for Training Services: A Demand Experiment with Bangladeshi Garment Factories," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 105(5), pages 300-304, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aecrev:v:105:y:2015:i:5:p:300-304
    Note: DOI: 10.1257/aer.p20151079
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nicholas Bloom & Benn Eifert & Aprajit Mahajan & David McKenzie & John Roberts, 2013. "Does Management Matter? Evidence from India," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 128(1), pages 1-51.
    2. David McKenzie & Christopher Woodruff, 2014. "What Are We Learning from Business Training and Entrepreneurship Evaluations around the Developing World?," The World Bank Research Observer, World Bank, vol. 29(1), pages 48-82.
    3. Miriam Bruhn & Dean Karlan & Antoinette Schoar, 2010. "What Capital Is Missing in Developing Countries?," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 100(2), pages 629-633, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Louise Guillouet & Amit Khandelwal & Rocco Macchiavello & Madhav Malhotra & Matthieu Teachout, 2021. "Language Barriers in Multinationals and Knowledge Transfers," NBER Working Papers 28807, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Achyuta Adhvaryu, 2018. "Managerial quality and worker productivity in developing countries," IZA World of Labor, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), pages 429-429, February.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • L67 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing - - - Other Consumer Nondurables: Clothing, Textiles, Shoes, and Leather Goods; Household Goods; Sports Equipment
    • M12 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Personnel Management; Executives; Executive Compensation
    • M53 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics - - - Training
    • O14 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Industrialization; Manufacturing and Service Industries; Choice of Technology

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