Teaching Entrepreneurship: Impact of Business Training on Microfinance Clients and Institutions

Using a randomized control trial, we measure the marginal impact of adding business training to a Peruvian group lending program for female microentrepreneurs. Treatment groups received thirty- to sixty-minute entrepreneurship training sessions during their normal weekly or monthly banking meeting over a period of one to two years. Control groups remained as they were before, meeting at the same frequency but solely for making loan and savings payments. We find little or no evidence of changes in key outcomes such as business revenue, profits, or employment. We nevertheless observed business knowledge improvements and increased client retention rates for the microfinance institution.

本研究采用随机对照试验（randomized control trial）方法，评估在秘鲁面向女性微型创业者的小组贷款项目中增设商业培训的边际效应。试验组在为期1~2年的常规每周或月度银行业务会议期间，接受时长30至60分钟的创业培训课程；对照组维持原有运作模式，会议频率保持不变，但仅用于办理贷款还款与储蓄缴款业务。研究未发现企业营收、利润、雇佣规模等核心指标出现显著变化。不过，本研究观察到参训者的商业知识水平得到提升，同时该小额信贷机构（microfinance institution）的客户留存率有所提高。