行为干预是否有助于经济包容计划的接受者更有效地利用他们的付款？加纳集群随机试验的证据

DISCUSSION PAPER No.2606|November 2025 Do Behavioral InterventionsHelp Economic Inclusion ProgramRecipients Make More ProductiveUse of their Payments?Evidence from a Cluster-RandomizedTrial in Ghana Mukta JoshiWen Wen TehAriadna VargasChristabel E. DadzieSaugato Datta © 2025 International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank 1818 H Street NW, Washington DC 20433Telephone: +1 (202) 473 1000; Internet:www.worldbank.org. This work is a product of the staff of The World Bank with external contributions. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this work do notnecessarily reflect the views of The World Bank, its Board of Executive Directors, or the governments they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this work. The boundaries, colors, denominations, and other information shownon any map in this work do not imply any judgment on the part of The World Bank concerning the legal status of any territory or the endorsement oracceptance of such boundaries. RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS The material in this work is subject to copyright. Because The World Bank encourages dissemination of its knowledge, this work may be reproduced,in whole or in part, for noncommercial purposes as long as full attribution to this work is given. Any queries on rights and licenses, including subsidiary rights, should be addressed to World Bank Publications, The World Bank Group, 1818 H Street NW,Washington, DC 20433, USA; fax: +1 (202) 522 2625; e-mail:pubrights@worldbank.org. Do Behavioral Interventions HelpEconomic InclusionProgram Recipients Make MoreProductiveUse of theirPayments? Evidence from a Cluster-Randomized Trial in Ghana Abstract Cashplus programs,which combine cash transfers with complementary services andinterventions, have become an increasingly popular tool for providing livelihood support andpoverty alleviation in low-and middle-income countries. While there is robust evidence toindicate that cash programs provide poverty relief in the short term, the impact of cash programson productive investment behaviors and activities is less understood. This study presents theresults of a cluster randomized trial that evaluates the effects of light-touch behavioralinterventions to encourage saving and entrepreneurial behaviors for low-income Ghanaiansparticipating in a multi-faceted cash plus program focused oneconomicinclusion.Participantsreceived business skills training, coaching and mentoring, and a cash grant to support theinitiation and expansion of their businesses. The study incorporated a suite of behavioralinterventions designed to help recipients set business-relatedsavings goals, create plans forachieving those goals, and follow through on saving towards those goals. In addition, the designincluded a pamphlet outlining key steps for growing or expanding a business, accompanied by atracker to help recipients remember these steps and track progress. Drawing from a sample of3,109 participants, the study found thatbehavioral interventions significantly improved goal-setting and plan-making behaviors related to savings and consequently, increased the incidencesof saving among study participants. However, the study did not find a statistically significantimpact of the behavioral interventions on improving business skills. Using acluster-randomized trial(N=3,109), this study evaluatedthe effects of light-touchbehavioral interventions on recipients of a multi-faceted cash plus programforeconomicinclusion, which includedbusiness skills training, coaching and mentoring, and a cash grant tosupportthe initiation and expansion of businesses.Results show that the behavioralinterventions,featuringgoal-setting and plan-making activities, savings tools, and businesspractice reminders,improved goal-setting and plan-making behaviors related to savings andconsequently, increased the incidence of saving. However, the interventions did not significantlyimprove business practices. Findings suggest that simple behavioral tools can strengthen savings behaviors and financial resilience among poor households, complementing cash and trainingprograms, though further research is needed on long-term effects. Keywords: Cash, cash plus, economic inclusion, productive inclusion, behavioral science, nudgesJEL Codes: I38, D91, D04, O12, D14 Table of Content I.Introduction5II.Motivation and behavioral design9 A.Background of Program9B.Typical Context of Participants: Two stories of CLASS Participants10C.Intervention design and rationale12 III. Experimental design and data15 A.Sampling and assignmentB.Study implementationC.Data sources and collectionD.Key outcomesE.Empirical strategy and analysis 1515161818 IV. Results A.Sample statistics and balance test20B.Do behavioral interventions improve savings behavior for productiveinvestment?20C.Do behavioral interventions improve applications of business principles?21D.Do behavioral interventions improve financial