Does Free Sound Too Cheap? The Adverse Effect of a Randomized Text Message Campaign on Program Take-up

• Tác giả: Jeannie Annan
• Ngôn ngữ: eng
• Ký hiệu phân loại: 027.4 *Public libraries
• Thông tin xuất bản: Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025
• Bộ sưu tập: Tài liệu truy cập mở
• ID: 302754
• Chủ đề: 1. AFRICA GENDER POLICY; 2. GENDER INNOVATION LAB; 3. PROGRAM TAKE-UP; 4. TEXT MESSAGE INCENTIVES; 5. YOUTH EMPLOYMENT

Tóm tắt

This study conducted a randomized experiment to improve participation in a youth employment program in Côte d'Ivoire by testing text message outreach methods. Sending text messages highlighting that the program was free only to eligible youth had no impact, but messages sent to both youth and trusted contacts led to reduced enrollment. This negative effect was smaller for women, and 0 when their contact was also female. Qualitative findings suggest that distrust among unfamiliar contacts contributed to this decline. The study highlights the importance of tailoring communication strategies in job training programs to increase effectiveness, considering recipients' relationships and trust.