Digital technology and inclusive development during global crisis: Evidence from a randomised experiment in Bangladesh

IF 7.5 1区管理学 Q1 MANAGEMENT

Research Policy Pub Date : 2025-01-22 DOI:10.1016/j.respol.2025.105173

Xiaolan Fu , Pervez Ghauri , Jianan Lu

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

We investigate the role of digital technology in inclusive development by conducting a randomised control trial (RCT) in Bangladesh. We analyse the mechanisms through which access to content-based digital platforms empower marginalised communities' entrepreneurship and employment and hence contributes to their income and resilience. Based on a sample of 2974 respondents, we found that the treatment group, who received our content-based digital platform usage training, manifested higher income resilience and better employment status during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020–2021. The results are underpinned by sub-group studies, real-usage studies, mechanism validity checks and qualitative analyses. This study contributes to the literature by analysing the impact of digital entrepreneurial support programmes in developing economies and the transmission mechanisms through which they include marginalised communities in economic activities. It also provides the first RCT-based empirical evidence on the developmental impact of content-related digital platform technology that requires low capital investment.

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来源期刊

Research Policy MANAGEMENT-

CiteScore

12.80

自引率

6.90%

发文量

182

期刊介绍： Research Policy (RP) articles explore the interaction between innovation, technology, or research, and economic, social, political, and organizational processes, both empirically and theoretically. All RP papers are expected to provide insights with implications for policy or management. Research Policy (RP) is a multidisciplinary journal focused on analyzing, understanding, and effectively addressing the challenges posed by innovation, technology, R&D, and science. This includes activities related to knowledge creation, diffusion, acquisition, and exploitation in the form of new or improved products, processes, or services, across economic, policy, management, organizational, and environmental dimensions.