Household Preferences for Women’s Employment: A Field Experiment in Bangladesh

This working paper presents evidence from a field experiment in Bangladesh examining household preferences regarding women’s employment. The study investigates how intra-household dynamics, social norms, and economic incentives shape support for women’s labor force participation. By experimentally varying employment opportunities and related conditions, the authors analyze how preferences respond to changes in income, bargaining power, and perceived social acceptability. The findings offer insights into the barriers to women’s employment and the design of policies aimed at increasing female labor force participation.