Aspirational hope, dairy farming practices, and milk production: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial in Bolivia. (December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cecchi, Francesco; Garcia, Adriana; Lensink, Robert; Wydick, Bruce
• Is Part Of: World development. Volume 160(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-12
• Subjects: Aspirations -- Aspirational hope -- Learned hopelessness -- Business outcomes -- Dairy farming -- Bolivia; Economic history -- 1990- -- Periodicals; Economic assistance -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; 330.9
• DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2022.106087
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0305-750X

Abstract

Highlights: We present the results of a randomized controlled trial among dairy farmers in Bolivia, in which the treatment group participated in an aspirational hope training. The training augments aspirations related to dairy production, as well as quality-enhancing practices. We do not find increases in milk production, but the likelihood of milk being rejected decreases significantly. Increases in aspirations and practices were strongest among those displaying high intrinsic motivation at baseline. Abstract: Development economics has increasingly studied the role of diminished aspirations and other internal constraints that may form poverty traps. We present results from a controlled experiment to develop aspirational hope among 531 dairy farmers in Bolivia. Subjects in the treatment group participated in three coaching sessions that involved watching an inspiring documentary and participating in group workshops designed to augment aspirations related to dairy production. Results three months after baseline show an increase of 0.20σ in both an aspirational hope index and a business goals index, a 1.07σ increase in an index of quality-enhancing practices, but an insignificant increase in milk production. Increases in aspirations and best practices were strongest among those displaying high levels of intrinsic motivation at baseline.