Is online job training for all? Experimental evidence on the effects of a Coursera program in Costa Rica

Abstract

Massive open online courses (MOOCs) are frequently viewed as a tool for democratizing education and job training. However, their effectiveness is largely untested. We report on the first randomized evaluation of a job training program offering cost-free access to curated, short Coursera MOOCs and certificates. We find low course completion rates (10%), with males and wealthier individuals more likely to complete a course. Personalized reminders did not increase treatment take-up over a simple, standardized email reminder. Treatment has no significant effect on labour market outcomes roughly two years after the program. However, we find marginally significant evidence that treatment increases post-secondary education enrolment by 11%. Evidence on mechanisms suggests that this may be operating partially through the program motivating individuals who lacked sufficient skills to pursue further specialization.