Measuring Hope: A Quantitative Approach with Validation in Rural Myanmar

October 13, 2017 - Bloem, J., Boughton, D., Htoo, K., Hein, A., and Payongayong, E

Measuring Hope: A Qualitative Approach with Validation in Rural Myanmar.
Bloem, J., Boughton, D., Htoo, K., Hein, A., and Payongayong, E. (2017) Journal of Development Studies. Pages 1-17. October 2017.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00220388.2017.1385764

ABSTRACT
Development economists are increasingly considering the role of hope in behaviours relating to investment, production, and consumption decisions of the poor. Although several studies have examined how the concepts of hope and aspirations may fit into economic theories, empirical studies have yet to validate a reliable measurement of hope. We adapt a quantitative approach to measure hope in the context of rural Myanmar. We present three tests of measurement validity. This study finds that hope measurements are correlated with covariates in a way supported by theory, are distinct from other psychological concepts, and are positively correlated with welfare perceptions.


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