This report presents insights from a study undertaken as a part of the Microfinance Researchers Alliance Program (MRAP), a research capacity development programme run by the Centre for Micro Finance (CMF) at IFMR Research. The study throws light on how … Read More
Publications
Client Profiling: a Qualitative Study of Experiences of Female Microfinance Clients
This study uses in-depth interviews to understand how women decide to be clients of an MFI, which factors guide loan usage and repayment, and women’s negotiating powers within the household. The focus is on the micro-credit client rather than the … Read More
Futures Pricing in the Agricultural Sector: Research Findings
For anyone trading or investing in a product, knowledge of prevailing market prices is of utmost significance. For products with high price volatility, informed future pricing can affect current investment decisions as well as lead to more accurate price expectations. … Read More
Role of Financial Intermediaries in the Indian Life Insurance Sector
Agents continue to be the lifeblood of India’s life insurance sector, even with rapid urbanisation and advent of customer-friendly technologies. As there are several complexities associated with the sector, most consumers prefer taking the agent route to purchase a policy … Read More
Unpacking the Causal Chain of Financial Literacy
A growing body of literature examines the causal impact of financial literacy on individual, household, and firm level outcomes. This paper unpacks the mechanism of impact by focusing on the first link in the causal chain. Specifically, it studies the … Read More
Barriers to Household Risk Management – Evidence from India
A study conducted by the Centre for Microfinance (CMF) in 5 districts of Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat looked deeper into identifying the reasons for the low take-up of rainfall insurance products using a statistically rigorous methodology (Randomized Controlled Trials – … Read More
A Civil Action: The Role of Indian Civil Society in the Climate Arena
In this report, the authors present an overview of the science of climate change and its impacts in South Asia, examine India‟s climate emissions profile and the range of impacts that may result from a changed climate, and discuss possible … Read More
Are there Cultural Determinants of Entrepreneurship?
This paper sheds light on the heterogeneity in the way that entrepreneurs from different communities conduct their business and the importance of community ties on the business dealings of entrepreneurs.
Impact of a Grace Period in Microfinance Loan Contracts
This policy note presents insights from a study that examines the impact of introducing flexibility into microfinance repayment schedules, specifically through adding a two-month grace period.
Microfinance and Social Capital
This brief presents preliminary insights from a study in peri-urban of Kolkata on the role of social capital in group lending models.