Abhigyan

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

Microfinance and Women's Economic Empowerment: An Experimental Evidence


Affiliations
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Accounting, College of Business Administration, Jazan University, Saudi Arabia
2 Professor, Department of Commerce, University of Kashmir, India
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


This study attempts to examine impact of Microfinance on economic empowerment of women. Following Multi- Stage (mixed) Sampling, the data has been gathered using Structured Interview Schedule from 370 Self Help Group women members from rural areas of Kashmir Division formed and nurtured under Umeed scheme of the flagship program - National Rural Livelihood Mission. The present study employed Quasi-Experimental Design that consists of 190 program (treatment) and 180 comparison group members (control). In order to compare the two groups on empowerment indicators, Independent Samples Test has been mainly utilized. The results indicate positive and significant differences between the two groups in economic empowerment indicators – independent income, independent savings, asset generation, control over household income, control over household savings as well as control over large purchases. However, the study reveals larger impact on two indicators of economic empowerment – independent savings and asset generation as shown by Effect Size. It is concluded that Microfinance significantly impacts women's economic empowerment. This study is believed to grab the attention of the policy makers towards further strengthening the program to reap its constructive benefits towards Poverty Alleviation. Due to Multi-dimensional nature of empowerment, the future studies would examine impact of Microfinance on non-economic empowerment as well and extend geographical area.

Keywords

Microfinance, SHGs, Women's Economic Empowerment, Quasi-Experimental Design, Independent Samples Test.
User
Subscription Login to verify subscription
Notifications
Font Size

  • Adjei, J., Arun, T. and Hussain, F. (2009). Asset Building and Poverty Reduction in Ghana: The Case of Microfinance. Savings and Development, 33(3), 265-291.

  • Batra, V. (2012). The State of Microfinance in India: Emergence, Delivery Models and Issues. Journal of International Economics 3(1), 0976-0792.

  • Chant, S. (2014). Exploring the “feminization of poverty” in relation to women's work and home-based enterprise in slums of the Global South. International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship, 6(3), 296-316.

  • Chhay, D. (2011). Women's Economic Empowerment through Microfinance in Cambodia. Development in Practice, 21(8), 1122-1137.

  • Chowdhury, M. J. A. (2009). Microcredit, Micro-Enterprises and Self-Employment of Women: Experience from the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh. Paper Presented at the FAO- IFAD-ILO Workshop On Gaps, Trends and Current Research in Gender Dimensions of Agricultural and Rural Employment: Differentiated Pathways out of Poverty, Rome, 31 March-2 April

  • Field, A. (2009). Discovering statistics using SPSS (3rd Edition). Sage.

  • Fofana, N. B., Antonides, G., Niehof, A., & van Ophem, J. A. (2015). How microfinance empowers women in Côte d'Ivoire. Review of Economics of the Household, 13(4), 1023-1041.

  • Garikipati, S. (2008). The Impact of Lending to Womenon Household Vulnerability and Women's Empowerment: Evidence from India. World Development, 36(12), 2620-2642.

  • Kato, M. P. & Kratzer, J. (2013). Empowering Women Through Microfinance: Evidence From Tanzania. ACRN Journal of Entrepreneurship Perspectives, 2(1), 31-59.

  • Khandker, Shahidur R. (2000). Savings, Informal Borrowings and Microfinance. The Bangladesh Development Studies, 26, 49-78, http://www.jstor.org/stable/40795612

  • Krejcie, R. V., & Morgan, D. W. (1970). Determining sample size for research activities. Educational and psychological measurement, 30(3), 607-610.

  • Kumar, L. (2013). Illusion of women empowerment in microfinance: a case study. Economic and Political Weekly, 70-76.

  • Madichie, Nnamdi O. and Nkamnehe, Anayo D. (2010). Micro-Credit for Microenterprises. Gender in Management: An International Journal, 25(4), 301-319.

  • Montgomery, H. and Weiss J. (2011). Can Commercially- Oriented Microfinance Help Meet the Millennium Development Goals? Evidence from Pakistan. World Development, 39(1), 87-109.

  • Poornima, K. (2013). Women Entrepreneurship and Empowerment through Self Help Groups in Tumkur District. International Journal of Current Engineering and Technology, Special Issue 1, 79-83.

  • Shaheen, I., Hussain I. and Mujtaba G. (2018). Role of Microfinance in Economic Empowerment of Women in Lahore, Pakistan: A Study of Akhuwat Supported Women Clients, International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, 8(2), 337-343.

  • Sinha, A. P., Purna C. and Bauran, P. (2012). The Impact of NABARD's Self Help Group – Bank Linkage Programme on Poverty Empowerment in India. Cotemporary South Asia, 20(4), 487-510.

  • Swain, R. B. and Wallentin, F. Y. (2009). Does Microfinance Empower Women? Evidence from Self Help Groups in India. International Review of Applied Economics, 23(5), 541-556.

  • Swain, R. B. and Wallentin, F. Y. (2012). Factors Empowering Women in Indian Self Help Group Programs. International Review of Applied Economics, 26(4), 425-444.

  • Swapna, K. (2017). Impact of Microfinance on Women Entrepreneurship. International Journal of Business Administration and Management, 7(1), 229-241.

  • Tariq, S. and Sangmi, M. (2018). Microfinance and Women Empowerment: A Brief Review of Literature. Pacific Business Review International, 11(3), 77-83.

  • Tariq, S. and Sangmi, M. (2019). Women entrepreneurship through microfinance: way for economic empowerment, International Journal of Advance and Innovative Research, 6(1), 79-85.

  • United Nations (2015). The World's Women 2015: Trends and Statistics. New York: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Statistics Division. Sales No. E.15.XVII.8

  • Vatta, K. (2003). Microfinance and Poverty Alleviation. Economic and Political Weekly, 38, 432-433.

  • Weber, O. and Ahmad, A. (2014). Empowerment through Microfinance: The Relation between Loan Cycle and Level of Empowerment. World Development, 62, 75-87.


Abstract Views: 243

PDF Views: 1




  • Microfinance and Women's Economic Empowerment: An Experimental Evidence

Abstract Views: 243  |  PDF Views: 1

Authors

Shagufta Tariq
Assistant Professor, Department of Accounting, College of Business Administration, Jazan University, Saudi Arabia
Mohi-ud-Din Sangmi
Professor, Department of Commerce, University of Kashmir, India

Abstract


This study attempts to examine impact of Microfinance on economic empowerment of women. Following Multi- Stage (mixed) Sampling, the data has been gathered using Structured Interview Schedule from 370 Self Help Group women members from rural areas of Kashmir Division formed and nurtured under Umeed scheme of the flagship program - National Rural Livelihood Mission. The present study employed Quasi-Experimental Design that consists of 190 program (treatment) and 180 comparison group members (control). In order to compare the two groups on empowerment indicators, Independent Samples Test has been mainly utilized. The results indicate positive and significant differences between the two groups in economic empowerment indicators – independent income, independent savings, asset generation, control over household income, control over household savings as well as control over large purchases. However, the study reveals larger impact on two indicators of economic empowerment – independent savings and asset generation as shown by Effect Size. It is concluded that Microfinance significantly impacts women's economic empowerment. This study is believed to grab the attention of the policy makers towards further strengthening the program to reap its constructive benefits towards Poverty Alleviation. Due to Multi-dimensional nature of empowerment, the future studies would examine impact of Microfinance on non-economic empowerment as well and extend geographical area.

Keywords


Microfinance, SHGs, Women's Economic Empowerment, Quasi-Experimental Design, Independent Samples Test.

References