An Integrated Economic and Social Analysis to Assess the Impact of Green Revolution Technologies on Poverty in Bangladesh

Kelly Hallman, Population Council
David Lewis, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
Suraiya Begum, Dhaka University

"Green revolution" technology has contributed to increased agricultural production, but questions have been raised concerning its exact impact on poverty reduction. This study undertakes an integrated economic and social analysis to assess the impacts of such technologies on poverty in rural Bangladesh. The research builds upon a rich pre-existing multi-round household survey. It is supplemented with new qualitative and participatory data collection which enables us to focus on a broader concept of poverty - one which encompasses not only income and expenditure, but also vulnerability and capabilities. Issues not easily addressed in a quantitative study - such as perceptions of poverty, livelihoods strategies, the institutional setting, and technology dissemination pathways - are informed by the qualitative data. Besides the main focus of the research effort is to contribute to the development of capacity for assessing program impact using an integrated set of tools from a range of disciplines.