Learning from Colleagues
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Series
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Speaker(s)Antonella Bancalari (Institute for Fiscal Studies, United Kingdom)
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FieldEmpirical Microeconomics
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LocationErasmus University Rotterdam, Campus Woudestein, T18-25B
Rotterdam -
Date and time
March 05, 2026
12:00 - 13:00
Abstract
We implement a large-scale field experiment in Ghana’s health sector in which a new clinical protocol for midwives was introduced through training delivered to a small set of informal leaders—referred to as champions. We randomize the rollout of the training across hospitals and cross-randomize the mechanism by which champions are selected: appointment by management or election by peers. The intervention triggers cascade training, increasing both clinical and protocol-specific knowledge among all midwives, with the largest gains among those who initially had lower ability than the champions in their network. Comparing selection mechanisms, we find that peer-elected champions drive the positive impacts, which persist over time, through a combination of selection and greater effort in their new role.