Microfinance and Poverty: Evidence Using Panel Data from Bangladesh

Microfinance supports mainly informal activities that often have a low return and low market demand. It may therefore be hypothesized that the aggregate poverty impact of microfinance is modest or even nonexistent. If true, the poverty impact of microfinance observed at the participant level represe...

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Veröffentlicht in:The World Bank economic review 2005-01, Vol.19 (2), p.263-286
1. Verfasser: Khandker, Shahidur R.
Format: Artikel
Sprache:eng
Schlagworte:
Men
NGO
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Zusammenfassung:Microfinance supports mainly informal activities that often have a low return and low market demand. It may therefore be hypothesized that the aggregate poverty impact of microfinance is modest or even nonexistent. If true, the poverty impact of microfinance observed at the participant level represents either income redistribution or short-run income generation from the microfinance intervention. This article examines the effects of microfinance on poverty reduction at both the participant and the aggregate levels using panel data from Bangladesh. The results suggest that access to microfinance contributes to poverty reduction, especially for female participants, and to overall poverty reduction at the village level. Microfinance thus helps not only poor participants but also the local economy.
ISSN:0258-6770
1564-698X
DOI:10.1093/wber/lhi008