nep-mfd New Economics Papers
on Microfinance
Issue of 2022‒12‒12
three papers chosen by
Aastha Pudasainee and


  1. Impact of Rural Credit on Household Welfare: Evidence from a Long-Term Panel in Bangladesh By Hossain, Alamgir; Mohammad, Abdul Malek; Yu, Zhengfei
  2. The Economics of Women s Entrepreneurship: Evidence from Building Skills in Uganda By Lang, M; Seither, J
  3. Transformation of Rural Areas Through the Use of Technology: Opportunities for Women and Youth By Sharma, Rahul

  1. By: Hossain, Alamgir; Mohammad, Abdul Malek; Yu, Zhengfei
    Keywords: Agricultural Finance, Consumer/Household Economics
    Date: 2021
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:asae21:329431&r=mfd
  2. By: Lang, M; Seither, J
    Abstract: In contexts where women have few opportunities for wage work, entrepreneurship may be one of the only avenues for economic inclusion. However, women-owned businesses are often less profitable than their male-owned counterparts, and many microenterprises do not grow. Can removing skills-based barriers to productive entrepreneurship increase women’s incomes and, if so, what happens when women become productive entrepreneurs? We randomize a program targeting ultra-poor women in Uganda that promotes business and entrepreneurship skills development. Removing these barriers generates large effects on business creation and increases profits by 105% relative to control. Treated women heavily re-invest their profits, spending only 23% on household consumption. As a result, we detect no effects on household welfare within our study period. However, we document significant, positive spillovers to other women and children in the community. Our results highlight the importance of skills-based constraints to productive entrepreneurship while pointing to remaining barriers to private sector development.
    Keywords: Entrepreneurship, Firm growth, Behavioral development economics
    JEL: D13 D23 D91 J16 O12
    Date: 2022–11–11
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:col:000092:020563&r=mfd
  3. By: Sharma, Rahul
    Abstract: Aside from improving women's and youth's livelihoods and options, digitalization can contribute to the development of an inclusive future for smallholder farmers around the globe. Through the use of this technology, the agri-food sector and rural areas can be galvanized to become more productive and sustainable. In the course of research, rural development has been conceptualized in a variety of ways by researchers, ranging from a set of goals and programs to a well-integrated strategy, approach, or even an ideology in some cases. As far as the scope and content of the relevant literature are concerned, there is a lack of clarity. In addition, there are no clearly defined analytical boundaries within the literature. Several occasions have been called to the attention of the authors that this may be considered both as a strength and a weakness at the same time. One of the cornerstones of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is the development of digitally skilled rural communities because it allows for the diversification of incomes, and it allows for the creation of new employment opportunities and business opportunities for future generations, both on and off the farm, as well as allowing for the development of these skills. Due to the increasing demand for safe and nutritious food, digital technologies are particularly well suited to help the world's agrifood systems meet this growing demand, while also contributing to high-quality productivity growth and economic inclusion of marginalized groups in the economy, as well as better managing natural resources.
    Keywords: Rural development through technology, technology impact on rural livelihood, rural sector opportunities, impact of technology on rural youth and women
    JEL: F63 I25 O1 O15 O32
    Date: 2022–10–16
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:115336&r=mfd

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