The impact of Grameen Bank credit on the levels of income, employment, and productivity of poor landless households in rural Bangladesh
Abstract
This dissertation examines the role of micro-credit on the liquidity constraints faced by poor landless and near-landless households in rural Bangladesh. The objective of the study is to examine whether collateral-free interest-bearing micro-loans from the Grameen Bank can help these households overcome such constraints and utilize their labor resources to rise above poverty. The hypothesis that the provision of small amounts of credit to poor rural households can reduce poverty by enhancing labor use, income and productivity, is empirically investigated using rural household survey data from Bangladesh. The findings of this study indicate that the application of small amounts of credit offers scope to reduce poverty among the poorest households in Bangladesh, namely by having a strong significant effect on employment and income levels. Most interestingly, the results also demonstrate that the “unexpected” or “surprise” credit that households receive have a positive impact on both household labor use and household income.
Subject Area
Economics|Welfare|Labor economics
Recommended Citation
Iqbal, Jhilam Zebunnessa, "The impact of Grameen Bank credit on the levels of income, employment, and productivity of poor landless households in rural Bangladesh" (2002). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI3045127.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI3045127
