Digital technology and inclusive development during global crisis: Evidence from a randomised experiment in Bangladesh
通过在孟加拉国进行随机对照试验，研究发现基于内容的数字平台培训能提升边缘化社区在新冠疫情期间的收入韧性和就业状况，为低资本投入的数字平台发展效应提供了首个实验证据。
We investigate the role of digital technology in inclusive development by conducting a randomised control trial (RCT) in Bangladesh. We analyse the mechanisms through which access to content-based digital platforms empower marginalised communities' entrepreneurship and employment and hence contributes to their income and resilience. Based on a sample of 2974 respondents, we found that the treatment group, who received our content-based digital platform usage training, manifested higher income resilience and better employment status during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020–2021. The results are underpinned by sub-group studies, real-usage studies, mechanism validity checks and qualitative analyses. This study contributes to the literature by analysing the impact of digital entrepreneurial support programmes in developing economies and the transmission mechanisms through which they include marginalised communities in economic activities. It also provides the first RCT-based empirical evidence on the developmental impact of content-related digital platform technology that requires low capital investment. • Investigate the role of digital technology in inclusive development through a randomised control trial in Bangladesh. • Analyse the impact of digital support and training programmes on marginalised communities. • Focus on grassroots entrepreneurship, employment and income generation. • Compares the differences in the treatment group and those who did not get digital support on income resilience and employment status during the Covid19 pandemic. • Provides the first RCT-based empirical evidence on the impact of content-related digital platform that requires low capital investment.