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Does group inclusion hurt financial inclusion? Evidence from ultra-poor members of Ugandan savings groups

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  • Burlando, Alfredo
  • Canidio, Andrea

Abstract

Millions of ultra-poor households in sub-Saharan Africa rely exclusively on savings groups to meet their financial needs. However, the ability of savings groups to fully meet these needs remains unclear. We randomize at the village level the proportion of ultra-poor members of newly-formed savings groups. We find that scarcity of loanable funds is more severe in poorer groups and affects disproportionately their poorest members. A trade-off emerges between the inclusion of ultra-poor households into a savings group and its ability to provide credit to these same ultra-poor households.

Suggested Citation

  • Burlando, Alfredo & Canidio, Andrea, 2017. "Does group inclusion hurt financial inclusion? Evidence from ultra-poor members of Ugandan savings groups," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 24-48.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:deveco:v:128:y:2017:i:c:p:24-48
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2017.05.001
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    3. Alfredo Burlando & Andrea Canidio & Rebekah Selby, 2021. "The Economics Of Savings Groups," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 62(4), pages 1569-1598, November.
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    5. Rolando Gonzales & Bert D’Espallier & Roy Mersland, 2021. "What Drives Profits in Savings Groups? Bayesian Data Mining Evidence from the SAVIX Database," Review of Development Finance Journal, Chartered Institute of Development Finance, vol. 11(2), pages 39-57.
    6. Roger Aganze & Roy Mersland & Bert D’Espallier & Kjetil Andersson, 2025. "Determinants of Sustainability of Informal Community-Based Financial Groups: Insights from a Survival Analysis Approach," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 61(10), pages 1660-1682, October.
    7. Rolando Gonzales Martinez, 2021. "How good is good? Probabilistic benchmarks and nanofinance+," Papers 2103.01669, arXiv.org.
    8. Gonzales Martinez, Rolando & D’Espallier, Bert & Mersland, Roy, 2021. "Bifurcations in business profitability: An agent-based simulation of homophily in self-financing groups," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 495-514.
    9. Emma Bossuyt & Bert D’espallier & Roy Mersland, 2023. "Profit-Generating Entities or Cash-Management Vehicles? Unpacking the Financial Performance of Savings Groups Worldwide," Post-Print hal-05221042, HAL.
    10. Baland, Jean-Marie & Gangadharan, Lata & Maitra, Pushkar & Somanathan, Rohini, 2017. "Repayment and exclusion in a microfinance experiment," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 176-190.
    11. Emmanuel, Bukuwa Nambale, 2022. "The determinants of participation in savings groups and the impact on input investment among smallholder farmers in Sironko district, Uganda," Research Theses 334746, Collaborative Masters Program in Agricultural and Applied Economics.
    12. ALIASUDDIN & Taufiq C. DAWOOD & Nanda RAHMI, 2020. "Financial Inclusion And Poverty Reduction In Aceh Province: Comparison Between Core Region And Periphery Region," Regional Science Inquiry, Hellenic Association of Regional Scientists, vol. 0(2), pages 209-216, June.
    13. Linda Nakato, 2024. "Including Men in a Female Financial Model: An Analysis of Informal Grassroots Financial Associations," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 36(1), pages 25-52, February.
    14. Mahabi Nabami, Armande & Petre, Anaëlle & Mersland, Roy, 2024. "Impact of climate change training intervention in savings groups," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 36(4), pages 2047-2062.
    15. Shubham Chavriya & Gagan Deep Sharma & Mandeep Mahendru, 2024. "Financial inclusion as a tool for sustainable macroeconomic growth: An integrative analysis," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 95(2), pages 527-551, June.
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    17. Kara, Alper & Zhou, Haoyong & Zhou, Yifan, 2021. "Achieving the United Nations' sustainable development goals through financial inclusion: A systematic literature review of access to finance across the globe," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).

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    JEL classification:

    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O16 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Financial Markets; Saving and Capital Investment; Corporate Finance and Governance

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