Diasporas and Outsourcing: Evidence from oDesk and India
利用全球最大外包平台oDesk的数据，研究发现印度裔散居族裔更倾向于将工作外包给印度工人，这种偏好源于初始合同选择及路径依赖，并探讨了其背后的品味偏好与信息差异。
We examine the role of the Indian diaspora in the outsourcing of work to India. Our data are taken from oDesk, the world's largest online platform for outsourced contracts. Despite oDesk minimizing many of the frictions that diaspora connections have traditionally overcome, diaspora connections still matter on oDesk, with ethnic Indians substantially more likely to choose a worker in India. This higher placement is the result of a greater likelihood of choosing India for the initial contract and substantial path dependence in location choices. We further examine wage and performance outcomes of outsourcing as a function of ethnic connections. Our examination of potential rationales for the greater ethnic-based placement of contracts assesses taste-based preferences and information differences. This paper was accepted by Lee Fleming, entrepreneurship and innovation.