NYMC Faculty Publications
Microfinance Safety Net: Back to Basics
Author Type(s)
Faculty
DOI
10.1080/07399332.2012.673657
Journal Title
Health Care for Women International
First Page
1005
Last Page
1014
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2013
Department
Public Health
Keywords
Bangladesh, Economics, Family Characteristics, Financial Management, Humans, Income, Poverty, Rural Population, Socioeconomic Factors
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
Abstract
Malnutrition among families living in poorer communities has increased in the past two decades. Initiatives advocated by the World Bank include microfinance programs. Research attributing the success of these programs however, has mixed results. In this article we investigate how additional income provided by microfinance is associated with increased consumption of nondurables for households in rural villages in Bangladesh. For our purposes we compare consumption or money expensed on food, medicine, doctor fees, and smoking. Fisher's least significant difference (LSD) procedure was used to address multiple comparison issues among households. Our findings reinforce the importance of microfinance credit as a safety net. Access to additional income for poor villagers improves the consumption of basic needs as expected, regardless of how many loans are taken; consumption of "bads" remains virtually the same.
Recommended Citation
Viola, D., Shi, Q., & Murthy, P. (2013). Microfinance Safety Net: Back to Basics. Health Care for Women International, 34 (11), 1005-1014. https://doi.org/10.1080/07399332.2012.673657
