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Paper short abstract

This study provides the first RCT-based empirical evidence on the developmental impact of content-related digital platform technology which empowers marginalised communities’ entrepreneurship and employment and hence contributes to their income and resilience during COVID-19.

Paper long abstract

We investigate the role of digital technology in inclusive development by conducting a randomised control trial (RCT) in Bangladesh. We analyse the mechanisms through which access to content-based digital platforms, as an emerging digital technology, empowers marginalised communities’ entrepreneurship and employment and hence contributes to their income. Based on a sample of 2974 respondents, we found that the treatment group, who received our content-based digital platform usage training programme, manifested higher income resilience during the Covid19 pandemic in 2020-2021, as a result of higher entrepreneurship and better employment status. This study contributes to the literature by analysing the transmission mechanisms through which a platform technology-based novel business model includes the marginalised communities into economic activities, and provides the first RCT-based empirical evidence on the developmental impact of content-related digital platform technology that requires low capital investment.