@article {682941,
	title = {Up Before Dawn: Experimental Evidence from a Cross Border Trader Training at the Democratic Republic of Congo-Rwanda Border},
	journal = {Economic Development and Cultural Change},
	volume = {71},
	number = {3},
	year = {2023},
	abstract = {Small-scale cross-border trade provides opportunities for economic gains in many developing countries. Yet cross-border traders{\textemdash}many of whom are women{\textemdash}face harassment and corruption which can undermine these potential gains. We present evidence from a randomized controlled trial that provided access to information on procedures, tariffs, and rights to small-scale traders to facilitate border crossings, lower corruption, and reduce gender-based violence along the DRC-Rwanda border. The training reduces bribe payment by 5 percentage points in the full sample and by 27.5 percentage points on average among compliers. The training also reduces the incidence of gender-based violence by 5.4 percentage points (30.5 p.p. among compliers). We assess competing explanations for the impacts using a game-theoretic model based on Hirschman{\textquoteright}s Exit, Voice, and Loyalty framework. The effects are achieved through early border crossings at unofficial hours (exit) instead of traders{\textquoteright} use of voice mechanisms or reduced rent-seeking from border officials. These results highlight the need to improve governance and establish clear cross-border trade regulations, particularly on the DRC side of the border.},
	url = {https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/718187},
	author = {Kevin Croke and Maria Elena Garcia-Mora and Markus Goldstein and Edouard Mensah and Michael O{\textquoteright}Sullivan}
}
