Digital Training for Micro-Entrepreneurs: Experimental Evidence from Guatemala
Previous literature shows minor impacts of in-person business training in developing countries, but few papers study the effectiveness of digital training. This randomized evaluation of a digital training program involving the franchise stores of a food retail chain in Guatemala (la Corporación Multi Inversiones - CMI), operated mainly by women, shows significant impacts on knowledge, business practices, sales, and profits. The digital training program combined a mobile app offering access to reproducible video capsules and virtual one-on-one consulting meetings. Consulting meetings were crucial in inducing engagement with the app’s content. Program flexibility, internet access, and initial sales were key determinants of training effectiveness. Only available in English.
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