A central feature of many developing countries is the presence of significant gender differentials in health outcomes. In this working paper, authors present findings from a study on one potential factor which can account for this; namely, that females seek … Read More
Publications
Does the Classic Microfinance Model Discourage Entrepreneurship Among the Poor? Experimental Evidence from India
Do the repayment requirements of the classic microfinance contract inhibit investment in high-return but illiquid business opportunities among the poor? Using a field experiment, the authors of this paper compare the classic contract which requires that repayment begin immediately after … Read More
Barriers To Household Risk Management: Evidence From India
The study throws light on the factors: both price and non-price related that play a role in the choice of rainfall insurance, designed to hedge a major source of agricultural production risk. With households exhibiting such a pattern, it remains … Read More
Savings and the Poor
In this note, factors that inhibit the poor to save are being discussed at length with evidence from various CMF based findings as well as studies conducted in the same subject worldwide.
Study of Ecological, Socio-Economic and Livelihood Dimensions of Grazing Exclusion in Protected Forests of West Sikkim
The goal of this study was to examine the impact of grazing exclusion in West Sikkim on forest ecosystems and livelihoods of local communities. This report presents findings from the assessment.
An Evaluation of India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change
This project develops a broad-stroke analysis of the design of India’s climate missions of the National Action Plan on Climate Change. The study is based on interviews of experts in particular domains who also understand climate change. The broad crosscutting … Read More
Chit Funds as an Innovative Access to Finance for Low-income Households
Chit Funds are indigenous financial institutions in India that combine credit and savings in a single scheme. In a chit fund scheme, a group of individuals come together for a predetermined time period and contribute to a common pool at … Read More
Selling Formal Insurance to the Informally Insured
Unpredictable rainfall is an important risk for agricultural activity, and farmers in developing countries often receive incomplete insurance from informal risk-sharing networks. This paper presents findings from a study that examines the demand for, and effects of, offering formal index-based … Read More
A Scoping Study of Financial Literacy Training Programmes in India
This study aimed at understanding the scope of different financial literacy training programmes that are being implemented across India, from both an implementer’s and beneficiaries’ perspective. To gather data for the study, discussions were held with all the stakeholders (module developing … Read More
Bringing the Bank to the Doorstep: Does Financial Education Influence Savings Behavior Among the Poor? Evidence from a Randomized Financial Literacy Program in India
This paper explores the uptake of branchless banking in one of the largest BC programs in the world, Financial Inclusion Network and Operations (FINO), which currently has over 48 million activated savings accounts across India. Despite being open, many savings … Read More