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Does microcredit increase household food consumption? A study of rural Vietnam

Author

Listed:
  • Phan, Chung Thanh
  • Sun, Sizhong
  • Zhou, Zhang-Yue
  • Beg, Rabiul

Abstract

Although microcredit is considered a crucial tool for economic development, its contribution to improving the welfare of poor households is not well established. This study investigates this issue. We start with a theoretical model in which microcredit is used to finance the family business of a representative household. The household maximises its lifetime utility, which yields a dynamic optimal consumption path as a function of microcredit borrowing. Guided by the theoretical model, we then empirically estimate the impact of microcredit using a panel dataset of rural Vietnamese households for the period 2008–2016. We find that microcredit programs in rural Vietnam were effective in raising household food consumption in both the short and long terms. Nevertheless, the burden of loan repayment may have diminished food consumption with a lag.

Suggested Citation

  • Phan, Chung Thanh & Sun, Sizhong & Zhou, Zhang-Yue & Beg, Rabiul, 2019. "Does microcredit increase household food consumption? A study of rural Vietnam," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 39-51.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:asieco:v:62:y:2019:i:c:p:39-51
    DOI: 10.1016/j.asieco.2019.04.003
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Chung Thanh Phan & Thang Tat Vo & Diem Thi Hong Vo, 2023. "Can microcredit reduce vulnerability to poverty? Evidence from rural Vietnam," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(1), pages 608-629, February.
    2. Manh-Tung Ho & Ngoc-Thang B. Le & Hung-Long D. Tran & Quoc-Hung Nguyen & Manh-Ha Pham & Minh-Hoang Ly & Manh-Toan Ho & Minh-Hoang Nguyen & Quan-Hoang Vuong, 2021. "A Systematic and Critical Review on the Research Landscape of Finance in Vietnam from 2008 to 2020," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-24, May.
    3. Thanh-Tung Nguyen & Trung Thanh Nguyen & Ulrike Grote, 2020. "Credit and Ethnic Consumption Inequality in the Central Highlands of Vietnam," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 148(1), pages 143-172, February.
    4. Samer Ali Al-shami & Abdullah Al Mamun & Nurulizwa Rashid & Mohammed Al-shami, 2021. "Microcredit Impact on Socio-Economic Development and Women Empowerment in Low-Income Countries: Evidence from Yemen," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-18, August.
    5. Wang, Xiqian & He, Zongyue, 2024. "Household response to health shocks: Does broadband infrastructure have a role to play?," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 1353-1370.
    6. Phan, Chung Thanh & Sun, Sizhong & Zhou, Zhang-Yue & Beg, Rabiul & Ramsawak, Richard, 2023. "Does productive microcredit improve rural children's education? Evidence from rural Vietnam," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Microcredit; Household food consumption; Vietnam;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O18 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages

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