Financial Well-being and Social Protection

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

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

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.

This brief presents preliminary insights from a study in peri-urban of Kolkata on the role of social capital in group lending models.

In this paper, the authors document the recent rise in equity investment in Indian microfinance and describe the process of obtaining equity financing and working with investors in detail. The authors also briefly describe two new alternative methods of financing … Read More

The paper presents insights from a study to assess the implementation of the financial inclusion drive and usage of banking services by households in Gulbarga district in Karnataka, one of the locations that claimed to have achieved 100% financial inclusion.

Since its inception in 2006, various banks have promoted the BC model in all corners of the country, though few of these efforts have scaled up beyond modest pilots. There is scarce documentation on how these pilots work in the … Read More

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

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

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