Social capital and large-scale agricultural investments: An experimental investigation in Zambia

摘要: Large-scale agricultural investments (LSAIs) typically depend on strong formal institutions and market-oriented intensive farming, whereas informal tend to characterize the traditional villages located around them. We investigate changes social capital in such when LSAIs materialize their vicinity. Specifically, we employ a lab-in-the-field natural field experiment elicit cooperation levels that lie direct proximity of two compare them further away. Our results reveal more cooperative outcomes for LSAIs. Smallholders who have worked large-scale farms also show greater than those no work experience. Moreover, closer demonstrate higher propensity share public good provided experiment. Taken together, these suggest beyond effects employment, yield positive externalities cooperation, which are likely be driven by increased exposure forms agriculture.