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Microfinance and Gender: Issues, Challenges and the Road Ahead

Author

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  • Supriya Garikipati
  • Isabelle Guérin
  • Susan S.J. Johnson
  • Ariane Szafarz

Abstract

This special collection examines the claim that microfinance promotes gender equality. The focus is on three areas of the debate: first, the question of how successful microfinance has been in empowering women; second, whether and how negative gender discrimination operates within the sector; third, how power relations within and beyond the household shape the context and outcomes of microfinance initiatives. The papers in this collection demonstrate the divergence of circumstances and emphasise the need to go beyond the past searches for a simple narrative regarding the impact of microfinance. Rather, as the sector evolves and is incorporated into the mainstream financial system, the challenge ahead for researchers is to marshal the evidence on gendered dynamics to ensure that the gains made are built on through deeper understanding of why impact outcomes and processes differ and use this to inform new initiatives to further gender equality.

Suggested Citation

  • Supriya Garikipati & Isabelle Guérin & Susan S.J. Johnson & Ariane Szafarz, 2017. "Microfinance and Gender: Issues, Challenges and the Road Ahead," Working Papers CEB 17-010, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    • Handle: RePEc:sol:wpaper:2013/248454
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    Cited by:

    1. Annabel Dulhunty, 2022. "The microcredit continuum: From ‘smart economics’ to holistic programming," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(6), pages 1213-1226, August.
    2. Anastasia Cozarenco & Ariane Szafarz, 2023. "Financial inclusion in high-income countries: gender gap or poverty trap?," Chapters, in: Valentina Hartarska & Robert J. Cull (ed.), Handbook of Microfinance, Financial Inclusion and Development, chapter 15, pages 272-296, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    3. Anaïs Périlleux & Ariane Szafarz, 2022. "Women in the boardroom: a bottom–up approach to the trickle-down effect," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 58(4), pages 1783-1800, April.
    4. Fall, F.S. & Tchakoute Tchuigoua, H. & Vanhems, A. & Simar, L., 2021. "Gender effect on microfinance social efficiency: A robust nonparametric approach," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 295(2), pages 744-757.
    5. Yang Zhao & Xuemei Xie & Liuyong Yang, 0. "Female entrepreneurs and equity crowdfunding: the consequential roles of lead investors and venture stages," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 0, pages 1-29.
    6. Huis, Marloes & Lensink, Robert & Vu, Nhung & Hansen, Nina, 2019. "Impacts of the Gender and Entrepreneurship Together Ahead (GET Ahead) training on empowerment of female microfinance borrowers in Northern Vietnam," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 46-61.
    7. Sibel Kusimba, 2018. "“It is easy for women to ask!†: Gender and digital finance in Kenya," Economic Anthropology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 5(2), pages 247-260, June.
    8. Ranjula Bali Swain & Supriya Garikipati, 2019. "Microfinance in the Global South: Examining Evidence on Social Efficacy," Working Papers 201908, University of Liverpool, Department of Economics.
    9. Touseef Ahmed Khan & Fahem Ahmed Khan & Qristin Violinda & Ilyas Aasir & Sun Jian, 2020. "Microfinance Facility for Rural Women Entrepreneurs in Pakistan: An Empirical Analysis," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-17, February.
    10. Nyarko, Samuel Anokye, 2022. "Gender discrimination and lending to women: The moderating effect of an international founder," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(4).
    11. Amirreza Kazemikhasragh & Marianna Vanessa Buoni Pineda, 2022. "Financial inclusion and education: An empirical study of financial inclusion in the face of the pandemic emergency due to Covid‐19 in Latin America and the Caribbean," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(3), pages 1785-1797, August.
    12. Hoque, Md Mahfuzul & Kummer, Tyge-F. & Yigitbasioglu, Ogan, 2024. "How can blockchain-based lending platforms support microcredit activities in developing countries? An empirical validation of its opportunities and challenges," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    13. Reboul, E. & Guérin, I. & Nordman, C.J., 2021. "The gender of debt and credit: Insights from rural Tamil Nadu," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    14. Marek Hudon & Marc Labie & Ariane Szafarz, 2019. "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away… How microfinance evolved and how research followed," Working Papers CEB 19-013, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    15. Yang Zhao & Xuemei Xie & Liuyong Yang, 2021. "Female entrepreneurs and equity crowdfunding: the consequential roles of lead investors and venture stages," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 17(3), pages 1183-1211, September.
    16. Goel Vishal, 2024. "An Empirical Assessment of Microfinance and its Associated Socio-Economic Development," Studia Universitatis „Vasile Goldis” Arad – Economics Series, Sciendo, vol. 34(2), pages 110-143, June.
    17. Emilio M. Santandreu & Joaquín López Pascual & Salvador Cruz Rambaud, 2020. "Determinants of Repayment among Male and Female Microcredit Clients in the USA. An Approach Based on Managers’ Perceptions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-17, February.
    18. Isabelle Guérin & Christophe Nordman & Elena Reboul, 2019. "The gender of debt and the financialisation of development. Insights from rural southern India," Working Papers CEB 19-016, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    19. Carolina Laureti, 2017. "Why do Poor People Co-hold Debt and Liquid Savings?," Working Papers CEB 17-007, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    20. Olga Gorelkina & Ioanna Grypari & Erin Hengel, 2019. "One strike and you’re out! The Master Lever’s effect on senatorial policy-making," Working Papers 201906, University of Liverpool, Department of Economics.
    21. Daniel Bamfo, 2022. "Microfinance Impacts and SME’S: Evidence from Ayawaso West Municipality, Ghana," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 6(1), pages 724-731, January.
    22. Supriya Garikipati & Rebecca J. Docherty & Penelope A. Phillips-Howard, 2019. "What’s the bleeding problem? Policy and attitudes towards sustainable menstrual hygiene materials in India," Working Papers 201907, University of Liverpool, Department of Economics.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    microfinance; gender; women's empowerment; discrimination; household economics; power relations;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O16 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Financial Markets; Saving and Capital Investment; Corporate Finance and Governance
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • B54 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Current Heterodox Approaches - - - Feminist Economics
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • I32 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Measurement and Analysis of Poverty

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