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A breakthrough in women's bargaining power: the impact of microcredit

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  • Lutfun N. Khan Osmani

    (School of Management and Economics, The Queen's University of Belfast, UK)

Abstract

This paper attempts to test empirically whether access to micro-credit can help poor rural women to improve their bargaining power within the household. The empirical measures of women's bargaining power, or empowerment, used in this paper are underpinned by a bargaining model of the household. By using survey data on the borrowers of the Grameen Bank of Bangladesh and by adopting a methodology that allows for the possibility of self-selection, this study shows that targeted micro-credit can have a significantly positive effect on women's bargaining power within the household. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Suggested Citation

  • Lutfun N. Khan Osmani, 2007. "A breakthrough in women's bargaining power: the impact of microcredit," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 19(5), pages 695-716.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:jintdv:v:19:y:2007:i:5:p:695-716
    DOI: 10.1002/jid.1356
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    References listed on IDEAS

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