Thesis (Bachelor of Social Science in Economics)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10361/28402

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Open Access
The impact of lockdown stringency on employment: a causal analysis of the ICT and contrasting sectors
(BRAC University, 2025-10) Raiyan, Jannatin Tajreen; Haider, ASM Shakil; Department of Economics and Social Sciences
Inspired by the increasing interest in the policy and sectoral dynamics during the COVID-19 pandemic, this paper aims to study the causal effects of government mandated lockdown policy stringency on the Information and Communication (ICT) sector, including four contrasting sectors which are Arts, Entertainment & Recreation; Construction; Transport & Storage; Accommodation & Food. This paper employs the Generalized Synthetic Control (GSCM) method to study the effect across a panel of 22 countries from 2010-2023. The results found that lockdown policy measures had a strongly positive effect on employment in the Information and Communication sector with presence of heterogeneous effects in the contrasting sectors. The study finds the results in line with existing literature and the additional analysis of the contrasting sector add to the validity of the positive causal effects in the ICT sector. This thesis includes detailed evaluation of the causes and future policy implications of these effects.
Open Access
Digital transformation in legal documentation: insights from legal professionals
(BRAC University, 2025-06) Mou, Nuzhat Ahmed; Hossain, Saif; Department of Economics and Social Sciences
The report explored the digital transformation of legal documentation based on insights from legal professionals. The goal is to find out how digital platforms are reshaping the way legal documents are done by addressing concerns related to accessibility and confidentiality. The objectives of these studies are- 1. Role of digital transformation in legal document management 2. Challenges in transitioning to digital documentation 3. Impact of digital record keeping on efficiency, compliance and security To achieve these objectives, 11 legal professionals were interviewed from both corporate and law firms. The thematic analysis was used to identify the trends and challenges mentioned by the interviewees. Findings reveal that digitalization significantly improves the documentation process of legal department yet faces some challenges e.g. resistance to change, data privacy concerns and lack of training sessions. However, most of the participants acknowledge the benefits of digitalization in increasing efficiency in legal documentation practices.
Open Access
Effects of unemployment on marriage in the United States (1990-2019)
(BRAC University, 2024-10) Rahman, Maliha; Kamal, K.M. Arefin; Department of Economics and Social Sciences
The existing body of research indicates a pro-cyclical relationship between marriage and business cycle fluctuations. Building upon Schaller's (2012) investigation, this paper delves into whether this relationship persists, examining the responsiveness of the female marriage rate to economic conditions with a particular emphasis on the influence of women's level of education. To ensure the robustness of the results, this research incorporates demographic factors to examine how race and ethnicity may influence the relationship between the unemployment rate and family formation. The key insight derived from the analysis reveals that while unemployment exerts a negative influence on the overall marriage rate and the marriage rate of less educated women, it has no significant influence on the marriage rate of college-educated women.
Open Access
The effect of climate unpredictability and natural disasters due to temperature rise on labor mobility in Bangladesh
(BRAC University, 2023-09) Haque, Adipon; Shafiullah, Muhammad; Department of Economics and Social Sciences
The unpredictability of climate and natural disasters is a concern in Bangladesh because this forces laborers in Bangladesh to leave their birthplace. This thesis is about measuring the effect of temperature, which is a proxy of climate and natural disasters, on labor mobility in Bangladesh by using Labor Force Survey (LFS) data from 2013 and mean temperature data from 2005-2015. The empirical analysis has used the econometric method and has found a positive influence of temperature on labor mobility. This thesis also has suggested policies to tackle the labor mobility crisis due to temperature-induced climate unpredictability and natural disasters.
Open Access
An Anthropological study on the socio-economic condition of the small-scale poultry farmers in Bangladesh
(BRAC University, 2022-09) Islam, Adhiti Fatema; Rahman, Dr. Mujibur; Department of Economics and Social Sciences
Open Access
An exploration of makeup and all its possibilities through the lived and learned experiences of upper/middle class women in Dhaka
(BRAC University, 2022) Mohsin, Mehnaz; Sabur, Seuty; Department of Economics and Social Sciences
This paper aims to dive into the makings of a makeup culture among women from upper/middle groups as learned through online sources. This culture has shaped consumer patterns, class identity and superiority and has contributed to the construction of a community. One such that includes routines and rituals, must haves and cannot live without, aesthetic preferences, creating and abiding with class identity that dictates good tastes and the undesirable. This education also expands to specific lingo as cultural capital, allowing for class solidarity in technique, language and products. This culture of makeup is central to transnational exchange of ideas, transforming markets that require digital marketing and beauty influencers in the local scenario to make it accessible. It has also made room for politicized conservations and sensitization through makeup. The political correctness of mis/matched foundations is an extremely charged conversation found in beauty content online, that has allowed for the unlearning and acknowledgment of colored bigotry. This makeup education from online sources has also enabled LGBTQ sensitization among heterosexual viewers from the intersection of makeup, recognizing that a lot of the culture is appropriated from LGBTQ techniques and artistry. This has expanded in the understanding of gender fluidity and normalization of makeup as gender neutral. Respecting and admiring gender diverse beauty gurus while living in a predominantly hetero-oriented society is a phenomenon that has become possible through the exposure to makeup culture online.
Open Access
Valuation of the benefits of improving drinking water quality for households in Dhaka
(BRAC University, 2011-11) Khushboo, Tazia Rahman; Hussain, Dr. A.M. Tanvir; Department of Economics and Social Sciences
Consumption of contaminated drinking water brings about economic losses to households in Dhaka. Hence, this study attempts to appraise the social benefits of improving drinking water quality by estimating the monthly WTP for improved quality of drinking water using the contingent valuation method. Thirty households in Dhaka were surveyed, of which 70Yo were willing to pay for safe drinking water, and the mean monthly WTP was found to be BDT 4066.04. The study finds that disease averting behavior and exposure to information media have a positive effect on the WTP. Therefore, the paper emphasizes the importance of public campaigns using mass media to inform people about water quality, purification methods, hygiene and safe storage of drinking water, and encourage them to share such information with other household members in order to improve their perception of drinking water quality and influence coping behavior.
Open Access
An analysis of the nexus between female labour force participation and women’s empowerment in Bangladesh
(BRAC University, 2019-03) Mustafa, Aporajita; Amin, ATM Nurul; Department of Economics and Social Sciences
This paper explores the links between Bangladesh’s economic growth in recent years and the contribution of women to that development by highlighting the ways in which this growth has not always been conducive to women’s own empowerment and establishment of rights and agency. It argues that while female labour force participation is growing, the scope that women have for working in Bangladesh has not qualitatively improved in a manner for work itself to be deemed as an empowering activity. The paper addresses the pressing need for formalising informal sectors and holding formal sectors accountable for their labour violations, especially when it comes to women, and highlights some of the harrowing experiences women have faced in the ready-made garments (RMG) sector.
Open Access
Unemployment with Educational Attainments in Lower Middle Income Countries: 1994-2017
(BRAC University, 2018-09) Mostafi, Sifatul; Munshi, Farzana; Department of Economics and Social Sciences
This paper empirically investigates how the overall unemployment rate in lower middle income countries is augmented by labor forces with different level of educational attainments by focusing on three distinguished level of educational attainments within the labor force, basic education, intermediate education and advanced education. Estimates from a dynamic model for 53 lower middle income countries spanning the period 1994- 2017 indicates that increased labor force with advanced educational attainment tend to be more unemployed and thus causing the overall unemployment rate to be increased in developing countries with lower middle income during the period of analysis.
Open Access
Impact of change in labor composition on the gender wage gap of host countries
(BRAC University, 2018-09) Karim, Afraim; Munshi, Farzana; Department of Economics and Social Sciences
According to economic theory, gender wage gap is influenced by changing labor composition, whenever the laborers in the labor market are active and employed. The supply of female laborers can impact the gender wage gap in a nation, where the impact can be both positive and negative. The paper investigates whether the change in female labor supply due to higher female immigrant inflow has any impact on the gender wage gap of the host countries. Since female immigrant inflow has been on the rise compared to the past, the supply of female laborers within the labor market has been increasing as well. The paper uses fixed effects model to analyze the impact on gender wage gap caused by the labor force composition for females. No significant impact was observed on the gender wage gap of the host countries.
Open Access
Impact of manufacturing industry specific FDI inflow on economic growth
(BRAC University, 2018-09) Mubde, Mutasim Billah; Munshi, Farzana; Department of Economics and Social Sciences
Investment is hailed as the primary proponent of growth in all economies which makes Foreign Direct Investment inflow a necessary and important part of growth analysis. The FDI decision however depends on the innovation intensity of various industries, among other factors. This particular concept warrants the importance of investigating the industry specific FDI inflow and its relation to growth. Previous literatures has not looked into the impact of the industry-specific FDI inflow, coupled with innovation intensities, on economic growth and thus, the paper looks into whether manufacturing industry specific FDI inflow through four degrees of innovation intensity has a statistically significant impact on economic growth. Using the OECD categorization of manufacturing industries’ technological intensity and taking data on 35 countries over 15 years, from the OECD and WDI database, and using a fixed effects panel estimation with robust standard errors, it is observed that FDI in medium low tech manufacturing industries cause a statistically significant rise in per capita GDP. The finding is interpreted by looking at the resultant market operation structure of the medium low tech industries, which are primarily involved in manufacturing intermediate goods and normal consumer goods. As these industries have a higher product turnover, the impact of this investment can be captured on the short-run or medium-run analysis, whereas the returns on investment in the high-tech industries rarely has any significant impact on the short-run analysis. With regards to these results, policies to attract FDI in medium low-tech industries are inherently beneficial for the recipient nations. Thus, policies enacting FDI liberalization is required to induce higher economic growth.
Open Access
Factors influencing women’s decision to choose their career
(BRAC University, 2017) Tofa, Aklima Marjia; Sabur, Seuty; Department of Economics and Social Sciences
Female employment plays an important role in development of any country. Involvement of women in workforce helps socio-economic progress of a country. Participation of women in work force can change the dynamics of entire labour market. In compare to last decades though the rate of women employment are increased but it is still very low in compare to global progress. It is urgently needed to increase female employment rate of Bangladesh for a sustainable development.
Open Access
Does globalisation affect informal employment in low and lower middle income countries?
(BRAC University, 2017-11) Zulfiqar, Samirah Bint; Munshi, Dr. Farzana; Department of Economics and Social Sciences
This thesis examines whether increased globalisation causes rise in informal employment for low and lower middle income countries. Previous studies have suggested that increased globalisation does play a significant role in the level of informal employment in an economy. This thesis employs a selection of 20 low income and lower middle income countries for the period of 1990 to 2014. To achieve this, the research employs a random effects panel regression analysis by clustering over countries and using trade-based indicators for globalisation. The empirical analysis finds that while trade does exhibit a positive and significant relationship with informal employment, foreign direct investment exhibits negative and insignificant relationship to informality and trade restrictions exhibit a positive but insignificant relationship with informal employment.
Open Access
Disenchanted garment workers: social and economic crisis of garment workers
(BRAC University, 2016) Ahmed, Mirza Tausif; Rahman, Dr. Shahidur; Department of Economics and Social Sciences
RMG sector has brought a revolutionary change in the life of rural and poor people, previously these people had no ways other than joining into traditional farming occupation or to work as a housemaid in the households of affluent people. But RMG sector has given them the opportunity to join in industrial sector and extricate the mesh of traditional and oppressive society. Particularly enormous number of woman has joined in RMG sector and achieved freedom over their life. Beforehand these woman had to live behind the enclosure of traditional society. RMG sector has given them voice and ground to step ahead. But working in RMG sectors costs the workers poignant and heart-rending sufferings and tribulations. Some time it costs workers their most precious possession, which is life. This paper tried to implore the sufferings and miseries that the workers have to go through while working in this sectors. I tried to surface the socio-economic conditions of the garment workers in this thesis.
Open Access
Construction of the Hijra identity
(BRAC University, 2016-12) Shawkat, Syeda S.; Sabur, Seuty; Department of Economics and Social Sciences
The purpose of this research paper was to be able to discern the various focal points that consist in the building of the hijra identity. The paper required a study of the different spaces in a Hijra's life, such as religion, government, the media, and their personal lives. I deployed the method of interpretivism, in my open ended one-on-one structured interviews with the participants. The field work was done in two phases in two separate physical spaces. For this paper I have drawn extensively from the works of Hossain, Nanda, Stenquist and Butler. The findings suggest a definite correlation between a traumatic childhood and the individuals joining the community, rather than the participants willfully chosen lifestyle choice. The gap with the mainstream societies is further solidified due to a lack of education. An important aspect of my research is to investigate the outcome of the 2006 formal acknowledgment from the government of the hijra community and understand in detail the process that was involved in establishing of the aforementioned law.

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