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Socially Disadvantaged Groups and Microfinance in India

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  • Jean-Marie Baland
  • Rohini Somanathan
  • Lore Vandewalle

Abstract

About two-thirds of microfinance clients in India are reported to be in self-help groups (SHGs). We study the survival of members and groups and their differential access to credit using a census of SHGs created between 1998 and 2006 in 386 villages in eastern India. Households without land and those from disadvantaged castes exhibit higher attrition rates and smaller loans, but the main predictor of differential outcomes is education. Members with formal education receive larger loans and are more likely to remain a group member. Groups with no such members are also four times more likely to become inactive.

Suggested Citation

  • Jean-Marie Baland & Rohini Somanathan & Lore Vandewalle, 2019. "Socially Disadvantaged Groups and Microfinance in India," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 67(3), pages 537-569.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:ecdecc:doi:10.1086/698310
    DOI: 10.1086/698310
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    Cited by:

    1. Demont, Timothée, 2016. "Microfinance spillovers: A model of competition in informal credit markets with an application to Indian villages," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 21-41.
    2. Kumar, Neha & Raghunathan, Kalyani & Arrieta, Alejandra & Jilani, Amir & Pandey, Shinjini, 2021. "The power of the collective empowers women: Evidence from self-help groups in India," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    3. Demont, Timothée, 2022. "Coping with shocks: How Self-Help Groups impact food security and seasonal migration," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    4. Danish Ahmad & Itismita Mohanty & Laili Irani & Dileep Mavalankar & Theo Niyonsenga, 2020. "Participation in microfinance based Self Help Groups in India: Who becomes a member and for how long?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(8), pages 1-26, August.
    5. Raghunathan, Kalyani & Alvi, Muzna & Sehgal, Mrignyani, 2023. "Ethnicity, information and cooperation: Evidence from a group-based nutrition intervention," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    6. Timothée Demont, 2020. "Coping with shocks: the impact of Self-Help Groups on migration and food security," Working Papers halshs-02571730, HAL.
    7. Vandewalle, Lore, 2017. "The Role of Accountants in Indian Self-Help Groups: A Trade-off between Financial and Non-Financial Benefits," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 177-192.
    8. Kanika Rana & Brinda Viswanathan, 2019. "Patterns of Access to Microfinance Loans in India," Review of Development and Change, , vol. 24(2), pages 259-279, December.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • O1 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development

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