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Self‐Help Groups And Empowerment Of Women: Self‐Selection, Or Actual Benefits?

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  • Zakir Husain
  • Diganta Mukerjee
  • Mousumi Dutta

Abstract

Researchers argue that programmes promoting SHGs often attract women already active in the public domain (‘self‐selection effect’), excluding those most in need of assistance. This exaggerates estimates of the effects of the programme (‘programme effects’). This paper attempts to test the significance of the programme effect of SHGs by comparing empowerment levels of newly inducted and older members of SHGs, based on a survey conducted in six municipalities in West Bengal, India. Results indicate that programme effects operated only to reduce tolerance of domestic violence and enhance status of members within the household. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Suggested Citation

  • Zakir Husain & Diganta Mukerjee & Mousumi Dutta, 2014. "Self‐Help Groups And Empowerment Of Women: Self‐Selection, Or Actual Benefits?," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 26(4), pages 422-437, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:jintdv:v:26:y:2014:i:4:p:422-437
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    1. Pitt, M.M. & Khandker, S.R., 1996. "Household and Intrahousehold Impact of the Grameen Bank and Similar Targeted Credit Programs in Bangladesh," World Bank - Discussion Papers 320, World Bank.
    2. Hashemi, Syed M. & Schuler, Sidney Ruth & Riley, Ann P., 1996. "Rural credit programs and women's empowerment in Bangladesh," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 24(4), pages 635-653, April.
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    4. Goetz, Anne Marie & Gupta, Rina Sen, 1996. "Who takes the credit? Gender, power, and control over loan use in rural credit programs in Bangladesh," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 24(1), pages 45-63, January.
    5. Kabeer, Naila, 2001. "Conflicts Over Credit: Re-Evaluating the Empowerment Potential of Loans to Women in Rural Bangladesh," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 29(1), pages 63-84, January.
    6. Hulme, David, 2000. "Impact Assessment Methodologies for Microfinance: Theory, Experience and Better Practice," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 28(1), pages 79-98, January.
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    3. 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.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • C25 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Discrete Regression and Qualitative Choice Models; Discrete Regressors; Proportions; Probabilities

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