In rural Northern Ghana, communities often self-provide local public goods without formal systems.

Researchers collected detailed social network data to understand how community structures predict cooperation. They then conducted a field experiment manipulating communication and social pressure before donations.

📍 Data & Methods: Detailed social networks in rural Northern Ghana were mapped.

• Collected comprehensive social network data from the communities.

• Conducted a controlled field intervention with manipulated communication opportunities.

🔍 Key Findings:

• Network proximity to leaders strongly predicted donation behavior.

• Experimental manipulation of communication did NOT enhance cooperation or coordination.

📚 Why It Matters: This study challenges common assumptions about how social networks function in collective action settings, suggesting they primarily map existing behaviors rather than direct them.