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Can information about jobs improve the effectiveness of vocational training? Experimental evidence from India

Can information about jobs improve the effectiveness of vocational training? Experimental evidence from India

567/2021 Bhaskar Chakravorty, Wiji Arulampalam, Apurav Yash Bhatiya, Clement Imbert & Roland Rathelot
culture and development, working papers

567/2021 Bhaskar Chakravorty, Wiji Arulampalam, Apurav Yash Bhatiya, Clement Imbert & Roland Rathelot

Using a randomised experiment, we show that providing better information about prospective jobs to vocational trainees can improve their placement outcomes. The study setting is the vocational training programme DDU-GKY in India. We find that including in the training two information sessions about placement opportunities make trainees 17% more likely to stay in the jobs in which they are placed. We argue that this effect is likely driven by improved selection into training. As a result of the intervention, trainees that are over-optimistic about placement jobs are more likely to drop out before placement.

Culture and Development