- Fordham University
- Dr. Subha Mani, Professor of Economics, Fordham University
- Dr. Sophie Mitra, Professor of Economics, Fordham University
- Dr. Katherine Theiss, Assistant Professor of Economics, Radford University
- Ridwan M. Hossian, Ph.D. Candidate of Economics, Fordham University
- Mst. Farzana Akter
In Bangladesh, where accurate measurement of disability and psychological well-being is essential for inclusive policymaking, MOMODa FOUNDATION is implementing the project “Measurement of Well-Being” with support from Fordham University. The project aims to strengthen survey reliability by examining how disability and functional limitations differ between self-reports and proxy reports, allowing estimation of under- or over-reporting introduced by proxy respondents.
The study also assesses whether the proxy respondent’s gender systematically influences the reported prevalence and severity of disability. In addition, these analyses are extended to psychological well-being to determine whether similar reporting discrepancies and gender biases exist in mental health measurement.
The project timeline runs from February to April 2026. A pilot survey has already been completed to refine tools and methodology, and full-scale data collection and analysis are currently ongoing.
For the first time, Fordham University has expressed formal interest in collaborative research with MOMODa FOUNDATION in Bangladesh. Both MOMODa FOUNDATION and Fordham University are pleased to enter into this partnership, marking the beginning of a promising academic and research collaboration.
In Bangladesh, accurate measurement of disability and psychological well-being is essential for inclusive policymaking. However, reliance on proxy respondents in household surveys may lead to under- or over-reporting of functional limitations and mental health conditions. To address this gap, MOMODa FOUNDATION, with support from Fordham University, initiated the project “Measurement of WellBeing” to examine differences between self- and proxy-reports and assess whether the gender of proxy respondents influences reported outcomes.