Climate Adaptation, Gender Dynamics, and Decision-Making in Vulnerable Communities: Experimental Insights from Bangladesh
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Philipps-Universität Marburg
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Abstract
Climate change poses severe challenges for climate vulnerable regions of developing
countries, such as coastal Bangladesh. The study area is Shyamnagar upazila of Satkhira
District of Bangladesh. The study is situated in a highly climate vulnerable coastal area of
Bangladesh where natural disasters have historically been prevalent and have escalated due to
climate change along with burgeoning freshwater scarcity. This study explores climate
adaptation preferences and decision making among affected communities in coastal
Bangladesh. We summarize here findings from three distinct studies, each exploring different
facets of decision making. The first two chapters focus on clima te change adaptation, providing
a comprehensive overview of the intergenerational, gender specific, and socio economic
dimensions of adaptation strategies in this region. The third chapter focuses on how unpaid
care work and different socioeconomic variabl es affect women's decision making agency in
the study area.
Chapter 1 investigates preferences for climate change adaptation among individuals in climate
vulnerable regions of Bangladesh through experimental games. This research explores how
individuals c ooperate for donation to climate adaptation for present and future generations in
the study area. It tries to understand how exposure to cooperative behaviors targeted at the
current generation's adaptation influences the donation for adaptation for the be nefit of future
generations, and vice versa. Additionally, the study investigates the nature of the relationship
between the levels of cooperation directed towards the adaptation of present generations and
the adaptation for future generations. This resear ch employs a multi person Public Good Game
with a threshold focused on the current generation and a multi person Dictator Game with a
threshold oriented towards future generations.
For this study, 316 respondents were selected from 10 unions of Shyamnaagr Upazilla using
cluster sampling based on geography and stratified sampling based on gender. The sample
selection details are based on unions and wards. The selection ensured a balanced
representation, with 48.42% female (153 samples) and 51.58% male (163 s amples)
participants. Two groups were prepared which are Threshold Public Good Game First Group
(TPGG first group) and the Threshold Dictator Game First Group (TDG first group). In total,
136 participants participated in the TPGG first group (80 male and 5 6 female). They played
two rounds, where they first engaged in the public good game, followed by the dictator game for future generations. A total of 180 participants, composed of 83 males and 97 females,
played in the TDG first group. They also played two rounds, first engaging in a dictator game
for future generations, followed by a public good game.
The study finds a significant relationship between investments in public good games and
donations in dictator games, showing that individuals who are more al truistic tend to be more
cooperative. The study utilizes the Network of Action Situations ( approach to show that
prior exposure to the dictator game, which focuses on future generations' adaptation, leads to
less cooperation in the public good game fo r the present generation due to the spillover effect
of the strategic uncertainty. Additionally, prior exposure to the public good game for the
present generation did not significantly influence donations in the dictator game for future
generations due to the learning effect resulting from the outcome revelation of the previous
game. However, a dependency between investment behavior and the level of endowment was
found to be significant.
Chapter 2 explores gender specific cooperation and perceptions regarding climate change
adaptation by utilizing experimental games in coastal Bangladesh. The study aims to
investigate the impact of gender relations on decision making related to climate change
adaptation of individuals in a cooperative within a climate vulnerable patriarchal society. It
examines how men and women make decisions in both intr agenerational and intergenerational
adaptation with threshold public good game ( and threshold dictator game for future
generation ( respectively. These games are organized based on the gender composition
of the groups, which include single sex groups and mixed sex groups.
In the threshold public good game ( participants were distributed across three group
compositions: 40 participants in 2 male only groups, 24 participants in 1 female only group,
and 72 participants in 4 mixed sex groups. In the threshold dictator game for future generations
( the allocation included 27 participants in 2 male only groups, 54 participants in 3
female only groups, and 99 participants in mixed sex groups. The mixed sex groups in the
TDGF were further div ided into subcategories: 48 participants in 2 male dominated mix
groups, 15 participants in 1 female dominated mix group, and 36 participants in 2 groups with
equal male and female representation.
Findings reveal that gender dynamics significantly influenc e cooperative behaviors. Men show
greater optimism and higher investments in single sex groups in the TDG, while both genders
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investinvest moremore inin mixedmixed--sexsex groupsgroups inin thethe TPGG.TPGG. TheThe qualitativequalitative analysisanalysis highlightedhighlighted societalsocietal normsnorms andand genderedgendered perceptionsperceptions asas signisignificantficant factorsfactors shapingshaping thesethese dynamics.dynamics. SocietalSocietal normsnorms influenceinfluence thesethese behaviors,behaviors, withwith men,men, perceivedperceived asas primaryprimary earners,earners, beingbeing expectedexpected toto contributecontribute more,more, whilewhile womenwomen oftenoften prioritizeprioritize collectivecollective benefitbenefit overover individualindividual gain.gain. MalesMales inin thethe TDGFTDGF werewere moremore opoptimistictimistic aboutabout singlesingle--sexsex groupsgroups andand pessimisticpessimistic aboutabout mixedmixed--sexsex groups.groups. OnOn thethe otherother hand,hand, females’females’ unconditionalunconditional contributionscontributions toto thethe TDGFTDGF reflectreflect societalsocietal expectationsexpectations ofof caregivingcaregiving andand intergenerationalintergenerational prioritization,prioritization, asas emphasizedemphasized inin feministfeminist ecologiecologicalcal economics.economics.
Chapter 3, adopting a feminist ecological economics perspective, investigates the impact of
unpaid care work and socio economic factors on women's decision making agencies in
climate vulnerable rural Bangladesh. The study collected data fro m 316 households in 2022
(153 women and 156 men) and 385 households in 2021 (52 women and 333 men) from
Shyamnagar Upazila. Decision making agency variables including economic, family, and
social domains are analyzed. Economic domains include spending for oneself, spending for
parents, economic participation, and land transactions. Family domains include children’s
education, participation in decision making in family matters, and participation in family
planning. The decision making agency variables relate d to social domains are going out alone,
participating in social work, and purchasing household goods.
The study identifies a positive correlation between unpaid care work and women's decision
making agency in all three social, economic, and family domains emphasizing how caregiving
responsibilities enhance their agency within households. However, entrenched patriarchal
norms and climate induced challenges exacerbate gender inequalities, limiting women's
agency. By applying the Institutional Analysis and D evelopment ( framework, the study
elucidates the intricate feedback loops between unpaid care work and decision making agency,
providing a nuanced understanding of women's roles in household and community level
adaptation strategies.
These studies underscore the complex interplay among intergenerational perspectives, gender dynamics, and socio-economic factors influencing decision-making and climate adaptation behaviors in coastal Bangladesh. They highlight the necessity of incorporating intergenerational equity, gender sensitivity, and socio-economic considerations into policy
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frameworks to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of adaptation efforts in vulnerable regions.
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Created: 2025Issued: 2025-11-06Updated: 2025-11-06
Faculty
Fachbereich Wirtschaftswissenschaften
Publisher
Philipps-Universität Marburg
Language
eng
Data types
DoctoralThesis
DDC-Numbers
330
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Tahzeeda,Jasia: Climate Adaptation, Gender Dynamics, and Decision-Making in Vulnerable Communities: Experimental Insights from Bangladesh. : Philipps-Universität Marburg 2025-11-06. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17192/z2025.0095.