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Do Spouses Make Claims? Empowerment and Microfinance in India

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  • Rai, Ashok
  • Ravi, Shamika

Abstract

Summary We study a microfinance program that provides compulsory health insurance to its borrowers and their spouses. We find that non-borrowing spouses are less likely to file insurance claims than those who are borrowing. Further, a man is more likely to use the health insurance acquired through his wife's loan than is a woman (through her husband's loan). These patterns suggest that women who do not borrow are disempowered relative to those who do.

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  • Rai, Ashok & Ravi, Shamika, 2011. "Do Spouses Make Claims? Empowerment and Microfinance in India," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 39(6), pages 913-921, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:39:y:2011:i:6:p:913-921
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