Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2001

Abstract

This research compares the performance of female and male entrepreneurs in a microenterprise credit program in Guatemala. Previous research and field practice has suggested that targeting credit at female borrowers allows for more substantial increases in household welfare, but that male entrepreneurs may more aggressively expand enterprises when given access to credit. In this paper, we develop a model that shows that increases in value of home time during childbearing years for women may substantially account for gender differences in responses to credit access. Empirical results from Guatemalan survey data yield estimations consistent with the predictions from our model.

Comments

NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in World Development. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Michael Kevane, Bruce Wydick. Microenterprise Lending to Female Entrepreneurs: Sacrificing Economic Growth for Poverty Alleviation? World Development. Volume 29, Issue 7, July 2001, Pages 1225–1236. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0305-750X(01)00032-8

DOI

10.1016/S0305-750X(01)00032-8

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