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Microfinance, self-employment, and entrepreneurs in less developed areas of rural China

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  • Jia, Xiangping
  • Xiang, Cheng
  • Huang, Jikun

Abstract

China is experiencing a transformation, as vast numbers of rural laborers move toward off-farm employment. In such a transformation, the role of credit is unclear. The overall goal of this study is to examine the impact of access to credit by rural households on employment decision-making by rural laborers in China. Based on longitudinal data concerning 1992 rural households in China, this study finds that the use of credit is immense in rural China. Among different types of credit, access to microfinance significantly increased farmers' time working on self-employment activities, especially for the poor households. Credit from formal financial institutions and informal networks had no such effect.

Suggested Citation

  • Jia, Xiangping & Xiang, Cheng & Huang, Jikun, 2013. "Microfinance, self-employment, and entrepreneurs in less developed areas of rural China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 94-103.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:chieco:v:27:y:2013:i:c:p:94-103
    DOI: 10.1016/j.chieco.2013.09.001
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    Cited by:

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    2. Zibei Chen & Minchao Jin, 2017. "Financial Inclusion in China: Use of Credit," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 38(4), pages 528-540, December.
    3. Liu, Ying & Huang, Jikun & Zikhali, Precious, 2016. "The bittersweet fruits of industrialization in rural China: The cost of environment and the benefit from off-farm employment," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 1-10.
    4. Yuan, Yan & Xu, Lihe, 2015. "Are poor able to access the informal credit market? Evidence from rural households in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 232-246.
    5. Ding, Zhao & Jiang, Yuansheng, 2020. "Experience, learning behavior, and rural households’ preferences for microfinance," 2020 Annual Meeting, July 26-28, Kansas City, Missouri 304308, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    6. Xing Ji & Jia Chen & Hongxiao Zhang, 2024. "Agricultural specialization activates the industry chain: Implications for rural entrepreneurship in China," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 40(4), pages 950-974, October.
    7. Wang, Jing & Lyu, Kaiyu & Lv, Xinye & Feil, Jan-Henning, 2021. "Rainfall Risk and Nonfarm Self-Employment in Rural China: Does Digital Finance Have a Role to Play?," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315326, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    8. Liqiong Lin & Weizhuo Wang & Christopher Gan & Quang T. T. Nguyen, 2019. "Credit Constraints on Farm Household Welfare in Rural China: Evidence from Fujian Province," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-19, June.
    9. repec:kqi:journl:2017-1-2 is not listed on IDEAS
    10. Balana, Bedru & Oyeyemi, Motunrayo, 2021. "Credit Constraints and Adoption of Agricultural Technologies in Developing Countries? Evidence from Nigeria," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315347, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    11. Martinson Ankrah Twumasi & Abbas Ali Chandio & Ghulam Raza Sargani & Isaac Asare & Huaquan Zhang, 2022. "Off-Farm Employment and Agricultural Credit Fungibility Nexus in Rural Ghana," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-15, July.
    12. Bairagya, Indrajit & Bhattacharya, Tulika & Bhattacharjee, Manojit, 2020. "Impact of Credit Accessibility on the Earnings of Self-employed Businesses in India," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    13. Icíar García-Pérez & María Ángeles Fernández-Izquierdo & María Jesús Muñoz-Torres, 2020. "Microfinance Institutions Fostering Sustainable Development by Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-23, March.
    14. Shankar Ghimire & Taylor Rigatti & Nicholas Sexton, 2017. "Effect of Credit Cooperatives in Employment Generation: Evidence from Rural Nepal," Journal of Development Innovations, KarmaQuest International, vol. 1(1), pages 29-44, February.
    15. Edgar E. Twine & Elizaphan J. O. Rao & Isabelle Baltenweck & Amos O. Omore, 2019. "Are Technology Adoption and Collective Action Important in Accessing Credit? Evidence from Milk Producers in Tanzania," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 31(3), pages 388-412, July.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Off-farm; Self-employment; Credit; Labor; Poverty;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • O17 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply

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