The Catch-22 of External Validity in the Context of Constraints to Firm Growth

Greg Fischer and Dean Karlan

No 20971, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: We document the presence of multiple and varied constraints to small and medium firm growth. This presents both a practical problem for business training programs and a challenge to academic economists trying to identify mechanisms though which these programs may affect outcomes. External validity needs theory. This pushes researchers to narrowly defined and highly selected sample frames, which limits the potential for clear, generalizable policy prescriptions. Ultimately, larger samples, multi-arm evaluations, process documentation, and narrowly-focused, theory-supported empirical work are all needed, but the complexity of the problem limits what we learn from any single study.

JEL-codes: M1 O1 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015-02
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-mfd
Note: DEV LS
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

Published as Greg Fischer & Dean Karlan, 2015. "The Catch-22 of External Validity in the Context of Constraints to Firm Growth," American Economic Review, vol 105(5), pages 295-299.

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Related works:
Journal Article: The Catch-22 of External Validity in the Context of Constraints to Firm Growth (2015)
Working Paper: The Catch-22 of External Validity in the Context of Constraints to Firm Growth (2015)
Working Paper: The Catch-22 of External Validity in the Context of Constraints to Firm Growth (2015)
Working Paper: The Catch-22 of External Validity in the Context of Constraints to Firm Growth (2015)
Working Paper: The catch-22 of external validity in the context of constraints to firm growth (2015)
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