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Evaluation of Entrepreneurial Activity in the West Bank

Last registered on May 20, 2019

Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Evaluation of Entrepreneurial Activity in the West Bank
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0004223
Initial registration date
May 18, 2019

Initial registration date is when the trial was registered.

It corresponds to when the registration was submitted to the Registry to be reviewed for publication.

First published
May 20, 2019, 1:31 PM EDT

First published corresponds to when the trial was first made public on the Registry after being reviewed.

Locations

Region

Primary Investigator

Affiliation
University of Delaware

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Affiliation
University of Chicago
PI Affiliation
Harvard University
PI Affiliation
University of Southern California
PI Affiliation
Rice University

Additional Trial Information

Status
In development
Start date
2019-07-01
End date
2021-02-01
Secondary IDs
Abstract
Lack of secular economic opportunity is believed to be related to social unrest, engagement in terrorism, and association with radical groups. In conflict areas, difficulties accessing economic opportunity and employment are often exacerbated by movement restrictions and investor concerns about safety of physical plant and other capital investments that might enhance employment opportunities. Recent advances in cloud-computing and software-driven services present the promise of a solution through cloud-based entrepreneurial activity. In this study, we propose an RCT-enabled programmatic intervention designed to alleviate a number of frictions related to movement and capital constraints in these settings. We implement a pre-accelerator program in the Palestinian West Bank, which provides information about software- and cloud-based entrepreneurship and how to start such a business, coupled with basic entrepreneurship skills education. We aim to teach participants that it is possible to engage in entrepreneurship that is not limited by movement constraints, and equip them with the initial information and tools to do so. Our outcome variables capture effects on economic activity such as new business creation; engagement in other, more significant entrepreneurship training programs, such as accelerators; measures of personal outlook from the psychology literature such as optimism, hope and attitudes towards the future; and attitudes towards economic and security cooperation in the region.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Dizon-Ross, Rebecca et al. 2019. "Evaluation of Entrepreneurial Activity in the West Bank." AEA RCT Registry. May 20. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.4223-1.0
Former Citation
Dizon-Ross, Rebecca et al. 2019. "Evaluation of Entrepreneurial Activity in the West Bank." AEA RCT Registry. May 20. https://www.socialscienceregistry.org/trials/4223/history/46783
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
Intervention Start Date
2019-08-01
Intervention End Date
2019-09-05

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
new business creation, engagement in additional entrepreneurship training programs, measures of personal outlook and attitudes towards economic and security cooperation in the region.
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
Treated subjects willgo through five days of training for building skills and accessing key resources for technology-focused entrepreneurs. Outcomes will be measured in a series of (paid) surveys at baseline/intake, following the training,
and 6M/12M post program. Surveys cover career intentions, attitudes towards entrepreneurship, and any
actions towards exploring/building businesses.
Experimental Design Details
Randomization Method
lottery draws
Randomization Unit
individual
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
Treatment is not clustered, planned observations is 500 individuals
Sample size: planned number of observations
500 individuals (split evenly between treatment and control)
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
250 individuals to treatment, 250 to control
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
Rice University IRB
IRB Approval Date
2017-11-06
IRB Approval Number
IRB-FY2018-212

Post-Trial

Post Trial Information

Study Withdrawal

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Intervention

Is the intervention completed?
No
Data Collection Complete
Data Publication

Data Publication

Is public data available?
No

Program Files

Program Files
Reports, Papers & Other Materials

Relevant Paper(s)

Reports & Other Materials