Social, Behavioral and Experimental Economics Seminar: Francesca Truffa
Female Entrepreneurship and Professional Networks
Abstract
We conduct a Randomized Control Trial (RCT) in Ghana on a sample of 1,771 female entrepreneurs to investigate the role of online professional networks (WhatsApp) for the performance of female-owned businesses. After a year, we find that access to online networking opportunities increases business innovation by 33%, improves business practices by 0.1 SD, and is associated with a suggestive 24% increase in profits. The intervention also increased search effort for potential collaborators, but did not increase realized collaborations. We find evidence of learning from peers and changes in business collaborators as key underlying mechanisms. Three-year follow-up data indicate limited impacts on long-term firm outcomes. Our findings reveal the potential and limitations of low-cost, light-touch interventions in fostering long-term business growth for female entrepreneurs.
Paper: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hy_5nBFHlxOv41Rkx3MwqC2RCGA1XBfh/view?usp=sharing
About the SBEE Seminar Series
The Social, Behavioral and Experimental Economics seminar series brings together a community of economics scholars from three units at the University of Michigan — the School of Information, the Department of Economics and the Ross Business School — whose research aims to broaden the understanding of the social, economic and political consequences of real-life decisions and behaviors.
Top researchers from around the globe come to Michigan to present their work at the SBEE seminar series, exploring the intersection of economics, psychology, computer science and information science.
The seminar series is organized by U-M faculty members Yan Chen (UMSI), Alain Cohn (UMSI), Erin Krupka (UMSI), Stephen Leider (Ross), Christine Exley (Econ), A. Yesim Orhun (Ross), Tanya Rosenblat (UMSI), Karthik Srinivasan (UMSI) and Basit Zafar (Econ). Todd Stuart serves as seminar coordinator.
Featured Speaker
Francesca Truffa
University of Michigan, Ross School of Business
I am an Assistant Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy at the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan.
My research focuses on labor and innovation.
I am an invited researcher at J-PAL’s Science for Progress Initiative (SfPI) and a CESifo Research Network Affiliate Member. Previously, I was a Lazear Liang Postdoctoral Scholar at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Contact: [email protected]