| Abstract: |
Our study on microfinance and poverty reduction in Mali by gender mobilized an
econometric method called Heckman's selection model (ETH, 1979) using data
collected in 2008 on benefi-ciaries of microfinance programs in Mali. It
provides the following results: microcredit con-tributes to poverty reduction
among both women and men beneficiaries. But while its effect on poverty is
significantly higher among women who have been long-term beneficiaries,
overall, men have higher effects. These results broadly converge with those of
the propensity score matching (PSM) model, despite some differences. At the
global level, the ETH model shows indeed men have higher effects, in contrast
to the PSM where women present higher effects. In rural areas, for the ETH
model, women have the most significant effects, the model of PSM emphasizes
the importance of the effects on male poverty. More generally, the re-sults
obtained by the Heckman treatment effect model confirm those already obtained
by the PSM, namely due to longer participation in microfinance programs,
access to microcredit contributes to reducing poverty among women more than
among men. These results suggest that microfinance based on gender policy
should be encouraged, but it seems desirable to support it, or even to frame
it through other major programs such as education. Therefore, a financial
inclusion policy and strategy must consider programs that target both women
and men, so that the effects become more significant in terms of poverty
reduction. |