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Training Microentrepreneurs over Zoom : Experimental Evidence from Mexico

Author

Listed:
  • Davies, Elwyn
  • Deffebach,Peter
  • Iacovone, Leonardo
  • McKenzie, David

Abstract

Standard in-person business training programs are costly and difficult to scale to the millions of microenterprises in the developing world. The authors conducted an experiment to test the feasibility, cost-savings, and impact of delivering live training sessions over Zoom to microentrepreneurs in Mexico and Guatemala. This paper demonstrates that it is now feasible to recruit and train self-employed women online, covering a wide geographic area, with few technology issues. However, the cost savings over in-person classes are less than expected. Training improved business practices and performance over two months, but the impacts had dissipated within six months.

Suggested Citation

  • Davies, Elwyn & Deffebach,Peter & Iacovone, Leonardo & McKenzie, David, 2023. "Training Microentrepreneurs over Zoom : Experimental Evidence from Mexico," Policy Research Working Paper Series 10574, The World Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:10574
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    File URL: https://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/099553009262338447/pdf/IDU-c11dae21-2d74-46a0-8e9a-b46f0e4bd0e5.pdf
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    Cited by:

    1. is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Asanov, Anastasiya-Mariya & Asanov, Igor & Buenstorf, Guido, 2024. "A low-cost digital first aid tool to reduce psychological distress in refugees: A multi-country randomized controlled trial of self-help online in the first months after the invasion of Ukraine," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 362(C).
    3. Diego Javier Ubfal, 2023. "What Works in Supporting Women-led Businesses?," World Bank Publications - Reports 38564, The World Bank Group.
    4. Nadia Ali & Giacomo De Giorgi & Aminur Rahman & Eric Verhoogen, 2025. "What Do Market-Access Subsidies Do? Experimental Evidence from Tunisia," NBER Working Papers 33985, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    5. Paul Rodríguez-Lesmes & Luis H. Gutiérrez & Juan Carlos Urueña-Mejía & Andrés Felipe Ortiz & Iván Darío Medina Rojas & Mauricio Romero, 2025. "The role of local promoters in helping microentrepreneurs engage in digital business training," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 15(1), pages 205-242, March.
    6. Fazio, Maria Victoria & Freund, Richard & Novella, Rafael, 2025. "Do entrepreneurial skills unlock opportunities for online freelancing? Experimental evidence from El Salvador," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    7. Cassidy, Rachel & Ebrahim, Menaal Fatima & Ubfal, Diego Javier, 2024. "Testing the Promise of Digital Scaling : In-Person versus App-Based Training for Women Entrepreneurs," Policy Research Working Paper Series 10992, The World Bank.
    8. Lafortune, Jeanne & Pugatch, Todd & Tessada, José & Ubfal, Diego, 2024. "Can gamified online training make high school students more entrepreneurial? Experimental evidence from Rwanda," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    9. repec:osf:osfxxx:hdjpk_v1 is not listed on IDEAS

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O17 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements
    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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