The Poverty Impact of Rural Roads: Evidence from Bangladesh

A study was conducted to examine the poverty reduction impact of road investment projects in Bangladesh using the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies with reference to the Rural Development Project (RDP) and the Rural Roads and Markets Improvement and Maintenance Project (RRMIMP) projects. The first phase of the survey culled household-level information in the study area before the project work, while the second phase culled the same data during the first half of 2000. The second study surveyed households marked and not marked by the Rural Roads and Markets Improvement and Maintenance Project-II (RRMIMP-II). Rural road development induced growth in already more developed sectors prior to program implementation. Secondary school enrollment of boys and girls rose notably in both project samples, whereas primary school enrollment was not impacted to the same measure. The overall road improvement impact on household per capita annual consumption was about 8%-10% across the project areas.