The Market for Training Services: A Demand Experiment with Bangladeshi Garment Factories
American Economic Review
vol. 105,
no. 5, May 2015
(pp. 300-304)
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.Citation
Macchiavello, Rocco, Atonu Rabbani, and Christopher Woodruff. 2015. "The Market for Training Services: A Demand Experiment with Bangladeshi Garment Factories." American Economic Review, 105 (5): 300-304. DOI: 10.1257/aer.p20151079Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- J24 Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
- L67 Other Consumer Nondurables: Clothing, Textiles, Shoes, and Leather Goods; Household Goods; Sports Equipment
- M12 Personnel Management; Executives; Executive Compensation
- M53 Personnel Economics: Training
- O14 Industrialization; Manufacturing and Service Industries; Choice of Technology