This case study sheds light on BISWA microfinance’s pilot project in which they offered self-help group (SHG) members across 50 villages the opportunity to purchase ITNs through cash or credit contracts. The case study focuses on the process of developing … Read More
Publications
The Importance of Hold-up in Contracting : Evidence from a Field Experiment
This paper explores how the relationship specificity of an investment affects the ex-ante structure of contracts and the ex-post resolution of an ensuing hold-up problem.
Cost-Benefit and Usage Behaviour Analysis of No Frills Accounts: A Study Report on Cuddalore District
This report presents insights from a study that aimed to analyze the results of the no frills financial inclusion drive in Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu in terms of coverage by geographical and other categories, cost involved in account opening … Read More
Weather Insurance, Price Information, and Hedging: Helping the Poor Manage Risk
This brief presents insights from a research project that explores the impact of a complementary pair of products that will enable poor farmers to better manage agricultural risk, especially by helping them accumulate assets and increase productivity even in the … Read More
Repayment Frequency and Default in Microfinance: Evidence from India
In stark contrast to bank debt contracts, most microfinance contracts require that repayments start nearly immediately after loan disbursement and occur weekly thereafter. Even though economic theory suggests that a more flexible repayment schedule would benefit clients and potentially improve … Read More
India’s Parliament as a Representative Institution
This article looks at the institutional framework for parliamentary debate in India in comparative perspective. Participation in debate and policymaking is fundamental to representation, yet most of India’s representatives have limited resources and opportunities to do so in comparison to … Read More
Meeting the Needs of the Unbanked in Jharkhand
To better understand Jharkhand’s challenges in achieving financial inclusion and economic growth, this case study gathers a wide range of perspectives on the status and future potential of expanding the outreach of financial services in the state’s banking and non-banking … Read More
Use of Smartcards to Deliver Government Benefits in Andhra Pradesh
Since late 2007, Indian technology company Financial Information Networks and Operations (FINO), in collaboration with the state government of Andhra Pradesh and several partner banks, has delivered payments from two separate government programs – the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act … Read More
Geographic Distribution of Microfinance Services in India, 2007
IFMR LEAD systematically collected district-wise data on number of active borrowers and loans outstanding for several of India’s largest MFIs over three years as part of its Map of Microfinance project sponsored by the Swiss Agency for Cooperation and Development. … Read More
Microfinance Bill 2007
On 20th March 2007, the Union Government introduced the Micro Financial Sector Development and Regulation Bill 2007 in the Lok Sabha – the lower house in the parliament of India. If passed, this bill may change the way in which … Read More