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Impact of Microfinance on Seasonal Hardship in Northern Bangladesh: A Propensity Score Matching Approach

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  • Abu Zafar Shahriar

Abstract

Daily income and food consumption of poor households in northern Bangladesh fall drastically during the autumn lean season of the year. In local terms, this seasonal hardship is known as monga , a near famine situation. Using the propensity score matching technique on cross-sectional data from Kurigram, one of the most poverty-stricken districts of northern Bangladesh, a study was conducted, which finds that participation in microfinance programmes reduces fluctuations in daily income and food consumption in the autumn lean period. Households’ capacity to cope with risk increases as the length of membership in microfinance programmes increases. The study further suggests that it is the relatively poorer households that benefit more from microfinance.

Suggested Citation

  • Abu Zafar Shahriar, 2012. "Impact of Microfinance on Seasonal Hardship in Northern Bangladesh: A Propensity Score Matching Approach," Journal of South Asian Development, , vol. 7(1), pages 43-64, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:soudev:v:7:y:2012:i:1:p:43-64
    DOI: 10.1177/097317411200700103
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Nicola Banks & Dan Brockington & David Hulme & Mathilde Maitrot, 2019. "Interrogating Microfinance Performance Beyond Products, Clients and the Environment: Insights From the Work of BRAC in Tanzania," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 31(3), pages 339-363, July.

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