Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/289947 
Year of Publication: 
2023
Series/Report no.: 
IDB Working Paper Series No. IDB-WP-1458
Publisher: 
Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Washington, DC
Abstract: 
We conduct a meta-analysis of 44 studies and 68 different managerial skills training programs, with the aim of identifying program characteristics that can lead to more effective public policies promoting firm growth and entrepreneurship. We synthesize 431 estimates to assess the effects of these programs on firm performance. Our findings show that, on average, managerial skills development programs have positive returns on management practices, firm productivity, profits, and survival. We also examine how program and participant specifications affect program effectiveness. Our analysis suggests that, on average, business training programs focused on human resources, soft skills, marketing, and finance-accounting, especially when organized by local organizations, tend to result in better firm performance. Moreover, training of potential entrepreneurs and managers in specifically targeted sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, or services was more likely to result in improvement compared to non-targeted programs. Finally, our results indicate that programs that involve both male and female participants are more likely to enjoy higher effects from managerial training interventions.
Subjects: 
Managerial skills
Firm performance
Entrepreneurship
Meta-analysis
JEL: 
J24
L25
M13
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Creative Commons License: 
cc-by-nc-nd Logo
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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