Financial Well-being and Social Protection

Innovative Ways to Improve the Savings Habit of Women

Deepti Kc

This brief captures lessons from a study that seeks to improve women’s awareness about savings products.

Filling the Gap: Innovative and Interactive Ways to Increase the Savings of Rural Women in India

Deepti KC, Mudita Tiwari, Vanya Mehta, Spandana Bhattacharya

This report presents findings from a study conducted as an experiment in Bihar, an eastern state of India, with 203 women, many of whom were a part of Self Help Groups (SHGs). The authors tested context-specific Financial Education (FE) to … Read More

Financial Literacy Education for Migrant Workers

Mudita Tiwar, Deepti Kc

This handbook contains context-specific financial literacy modules that aim to address the knowledge gaps about financial products and services among migrant workers.

Financial Literacy for Women Entrepreneurs

Mudita Tiwar, Deepti KC

The research was aimed at understanding the social, cultural and economic factors influencing modes of payments (cash versus electronic) used by small scale entrepreneurs. The findings indicate a strong preference for cash, which is a culturally accepted payment mode for … Read More

The Efficacy and Financial Sustainability of Mobile Phone-based Agricultural Extension

Shawn Cole, Nilesh Fernando, Tarun Pokiya, Hee Kwon Seo, Niriksha Shetty

This policy brief describes lessons from a large-scale field experiment that has delivered mobile-phone-based agricultural information to cotton farmers in western India.

Repayment Flexibility in Microfinance Contracts: Theory and Experimental Evidence on Take-up and Selection

Giorgia Barboni

This paper studies the impact of introducing repayment flexibility in microfinance contracts. The author builds an adverse selection model that predicts the existence of a separating equilibrium where lenders are able to achieve higher profits by simultaneously offering a rigid … Read More

A Blueprint for the Delivery of Comprehensive Financial Services to the Poor in India

Bindu Ananth, Bastavee Barooah, Rupalee Ruchismita, Aparna Bhatnagar

This paper attempts to articulate a new vision for the scaled delivery of comprehensive financial services to the rural and urban poor of India. The strategies suggested in the document draw heavily on the lessons from previous experiences in this … Read More