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Does Microcredit Reach the Poor and Vulnerable? Evidence from Northern Bangladesh

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  • Sajeda Amin
  • Ashok S. Rai
  • Giorgio Topa

Abstract

This paper evaluates whether microcredit programs such as the popular Grameen Bank reach the relatively poor and vulnerable in two Bangladeshi villages. It uses a unique panel dataset with monthly consumption and income data for 229 households before they received loans. We find that while microcredit is successful at reaching the poor, it is less successful at reaching the vulnerable, and may even exclude the vulnerable poor.

Suggested Citation

  • Sajeda Amin & Ashok S. Rai & Giorgio Topa, 2001. "Does Microcredit Reach the Poor and Vulnerable? Evidence from Northern Bangladesh," CID Working Papers 28A, Center for International Development at Harvard University.
    • Handle: RePEc:cid:wpfacu:28a
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    poverty; vulnerability; microcredit; targeting; Grameen Bank;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O16 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Financial Markets; Saving and Capital Investment; Corporate Finance and Governance
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • Q12 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Micro Analysis of Farm Firms, Farm Households, and Farm Input Markets

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