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What is in Local Dialects? A Field Experiment on Social Distance and Human Capital Development in Job Training

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  • Li, Sherry Xin
  • Wang, Shengzhe
  • Yang, Shuo

Abstract

This paper presents a field experiment at a large garment factory in China to investigate whether the reduced social distance between new sewing workers and their trainers affects the efficacy of on-the-job training. During the factory's new-worker training program, we randomly matched trainers and trainees based on whether they spoke the same dialects. We find that trainers voluntarily transfer more sewing techniques to trainees who speak the same dialects than to those who do not. This positive effect of shared dialects operates partially through non-work-related social closeness between trainers and trainees. Our results suggest that closer social distance could be cost-efficient leverage to reduce training costs and improve training outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Sherry Xin & Wang, Shengzhe & Yang, Shuo, 2023. "What is in Local Dialects? A Field Experiment on Social Distance and Human Capital Development in Job Training," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 106(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:soceco:v:106:y:2023:i:c:s2214804323000940
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socec.2023.102068
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Human capital development; dialects; social distance; field experiment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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