Discussion on Research Questions

Out of 30+ research questions, we have questions that explore:• firm take-up of the intervention (using information, behavioral

outcomes)

• package of services

• exports

• firm/investor entry / exit

• impact of reputation

• spillovers

• possibly subjective outcome measures

Order of the day

• 3 Groups: Linkages 1, Linkages 2, Regulatory Efficiency and High Growth Firms

• Tunisia – Zambia – Kosovo – Ethiopia –Discussion

• Vietnam – Peru – Mexico – Colombia –Argentina – Discussion

• Bangladesh – Greece -- Brazil – Senegal – Kenya – Discussion

• 1 min – Our intervention(s) is ……

• 1 min – Our research questions are …..

Linkages 1

Tunisia Alliance

• Specific question (arm 1): what’s the impact of joining productive alliance on farmers’ market access, income, productivity, and employment

• Specific question (arm 2): what’s the impact of receiving market information on farmers’ income and productivity

Zambia

• What is the impact of intermediation (matching producers with buyers AND technical assistance in preparing business plan) (arm 1)

• What is the impact of intermediation and a matching grant (arm 2)* (Two different IEs: 1) Matching farmers to SMEs (Productive Alliances Program) and 2) Matching SMEs to larger firms (Market Connect Program)

Kosovo

• What is the impact of providing business development services on firm exports, employment, and productivity?

• What is the impact of providing quality certification and standards along with business development services on firm exports, employment, and productivity?

Ethiopia National Quality Infrastructure (NQI)

1a. Does reducing cost of NQI services increase its usage?

1b. Does providing information about potential benefits of NQI services increase its usage?

1c. Does providing technical assistance increase usage of NQI?

2a. Do these three interventions affect firm outcomes directly? (export, etc.)

2b. Do these three interventions affect firm outcomes indirectly? • spillovers down the value chain• spillovers up the value chain

Discussion

Linkages 2

Vietnam Linkages• Does the program increase linkages between SMEs and FDI firms?

• What is the effect of providing scoring information in the online database?

• What is the effect of the supplier development program?

Peru

• What is the impact of “entrepreneur versus ecosystem” innovation interventions on firm performance (productivity, sales, profits)?

• Which innovation focus (or both) drives more radical innovations?• Intervention-directly-related outcomes

• Continuum of incremental to radical innovations (TBC)

• What are the internal and external innovation-related outcomes that result from more radical innovations?

• Internal innovation-related outcomes (4Ps – Process, People, Products, Pricing (and markup)

• External innovation related outcomes (4Cs – Competition, Customers, Chain (value), Collaborators)

•

Colombia Export

• What is the impact of Colombia Productiva on firms’ productivity?

• What is the impact of Colombia Productiva on firms’ exports growth?

• What is the impact of Colombia Productiva on firms’ continuity as exporters?

• What is the impact of Colombia Productiva on firms’ profitability?

Argentina

• Lack of awareness of good business practices constrains export potential • Improve in good export practices leads to better export performance?

• How to facilitate information of good export practices to SME´s?

Mexico SEZs

• How is linkage formation fostered and what is the value of a linkage? • How can intensive training/mentorship impact the likelihood of link formation?

• How does differential information about potential partners impact link formation?

• What is the impact of initial transaction price discounts on continued lead firm-supplier linkages?

• We randomize firms into treatment and control groups that leverage existing training programs to build capacity

• We randomize information presented to lead firms about suppliers to vary the likelihood of link formation

• We randomize the financial support for local firms to create control groups of firms who fail to form linkages, and a comparable treatment group who do form linkages

Discussion

Regulatory Efficiency and High Growth Firms

Bangladesh One Stop Shop

• Overall: What is the impact of the establishment of One-Stop Shop on the growth of new private investment?• Does the OSS reduce time and cost of private investment entry?

• Does the OSS improve satisfaction with the process of private investment entry?

Greece - Inspections

• Outcome Data• Compliance with safety regulation as determined at inspection

• Compliance with safety regulations at determined by shadow inspectors

• Simplified online consumer reporting of suspected violations

• Cost of inspections

• Firm reported profits

• Corruption of inspectors

• Process Indicators• Frequency and timing of inspections

• Number of shadow inspections

Brazil Sebrae

• Overall: What is the impact of best business practices on firm’s performance• Specific question 1: does feedback (with benchmark) on business practices

affect adoption of best practices

• Specific 2: Does avia Sebrae’s materials?

• Specific question 3: is adoption different according to entrepreneur’s profile?

• Specific question 4: Do reminders via SMS affect access to and use of Sebrae’smaterials?

Senegal Business Plan Competition

• Overall: What is the impact of BPC on the innovative firm creation and growth in Senegal?

• Arm 1: Does BPC as currently implemented affect innovative firms creation?

• Arm 2: What is the additional impact of the follow up customized support (aftercare) to the winners on the firms survival rate and growth?

• Arm 3: What share of the program impact on the firms survival and growth comes from public recognition and celebration as “winners”?

Kenya

• What is the impact of a grant to high growth entrepreneurs on job creation for targeted youth in the context of a business plan competition?• What is the differential impact of providing a large grant ($36,000) versus a small

grant ($9,000)?

• Does support for business plan preparation increase the likelihood of winning the business plan competition?• And the ultimate success of the businesses? [conditional on power]

• What is the effect of the business plan competition screening process on job creation for target youth?• Is this effect differential for those that receive small grant ($9,000)?

• For those who do not participate in the business plan competition screening process, what is the effect of a small grant on job creation for target youth?