Abstract This article explores whether financial development reduces external financing constraints faced by firms, a key channel through which finance impacts economic growth. Using an extensive firm-level dataset from Viet Nam, we use a structural Q model of investment estimated using a generalized method of moments technique. We focus on three aspects of financial development: financial depth, state-owned enterprise (SOE) use of finance and, the degree of market-driven, commercial bank financing in the economy. Our data allow us to measure financial development at the province level, providing rich within-country variation. We find that financial development reduces external financing constraints for firms thus facilitating higher investment activity. Financing constraints are decreasing in credit to the private sector, increasing in the use of finance by SOEs and decreasing in the degree to which finance is allocated on market-terms by commercial banks.

Abstract Despite extensive evidence on the importance of non-cognitive skills for labor market outcomes, to what extent training can affect specific skills in adulthood remains an open question. We conducted a randomized controlled trial with low-skilled employed workers in Senegal where workers were randomly assigned to receive a training intervention designed to affect conscientiousness-related skills. We found that treated workers were significantly more likely to stay in their job, had higher earnings and better performance grades post intervention. Our findings suggest that non-cognitive skills can be affected later in the life cycle and targeted training can have substantial labor market returns.