This paper reports results from the randomized evaluation of a group lending microcredit program in Hyderabad, India. A lender worked in 52 randomly selected neighborhoods, leading to an 8.4 percentage point increase in takeup of microcredit. Small business investment and profits of pre-existing businesses increased, but consumption did not significantly increase.
The Miracle of Microfinance? Evidence from a Randomized Evaluation
Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo, Rachel Glennerster, Cynthia Kinnan
2014