Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP12070
Authors: Marcel Fafchamps; Asadul Islam; Abdul Malek; Debayan Pakrashi
Abstract: We seek to improve the targeting of vocational training by inviting past trainees to select future trainees from a candidate pool. Some referees are rewarded or incentivized. Training increases the adoption of recommended practices and improves performance on average, but not all trainees adopt. Referred trainees are 3.7% more likely to adopt, but rewarding or incentivizing referees does not improve referral quality. When referees receive financial compensation, average adoption increases and referee and referred are more likely to coordinate their adoption behavior.
Keywords: targeting; social networks; agricultural innovation; extension
JEL Codes: D83; O13; O33
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| referral quality (L15) | adoption rates (J13) |
| training (M53) | adoption of recommended practices (Q52) |
| financial incentives for referees (Z22) | improved adoption rates among referred trainees (J24) |
| referrals (L84) | quality of trainees (J24) |
| constraints faced by referees (Z22) | selection of candidates (D79) |