Do entrepreneurial skills unlock opportunities for online freelancing? Experimental evidence from El Salvador

IF 5.1 1区经济学 Q1 ECONOMICS

Journal of Development Economics Pub Date : 2024-09-07 DOI:10.1016/j.jdeveco.2024.103363

Maria Victoria Fazio , Richard Freund , Rafael Novella

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

This paper reports on a randomized experiment in El Salvador that aimed to improve online labor market outcomes by teaching the entrepreneurial skills required to engage with online marketplaces. Despite low completion rates, we find that assignment to the training significantly increases online freelancing outcomes, such as the probability of having an online freelancing profile, the number of proposals sent, receiving at least one job offer, and securing at least one online freelancing contract. We also observe improved socioemotional skills. However, we find no significant effects of the program on the number of job offers, contracts, or any broader labor market outcomes. Further analysis suggests that poor initial job ratings may have hindered sustained success in online freelancing. Overall, despite some initial success, the program failed to have a lasting impact on the livelihoods of the participants.

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创业技能能为网上自由职业者带来机会吗？来自萨尔瓦多的实验证据

本文报告了在萨尔瓦多开展的一项随机试验，该试验旨在通过传授参与网络市场所需的创业技能来改善网络劳动力市场的成果。尽管完成率较低，但我们发现，参加培训能显著提高在线自由职业者的成果，如建立在线自由职业者档案的概率、发送建议的数量、收到至少一份工作邀请以及获得至少一份在线自由职业者合同。我们还观察到社会情感技能的提高。然而，我们没有发现该计划对工作机会、合同数量或任何更广泛的劳动力市场结果产生重大影响。进一步的分析表明，最初的工作评级不佳可能阻碍了在线自由职业的持续成功。总体而言，尽管该计划取得了一些初步成功，但未能对参与者的生计产生持久影响。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Development Economics ECONOMICS-

CiteScore

8.30

自引率

4.00%

发文量

126

审稿时长

72 days

期刊介绍： The Journal of Development Economics publishes papers relating to all aspects of economic development - from immediate policy concerns to structural problems of underdevelopment. The emphasis is on quantitative or analytical work, which is relevant as well as intellectually stimulating.