The impact of microfinance on poverty alleviation : a case study of borrowers in Ramallah
Other Title(s)
أثر التمويل المتناهي الصغر على التخفيف من الفقر : حالة دراسية حول المقترضين في رام الله
Dissertant
Thesis advisor
Comitee Members
University
Birzeit University
Faculty
Faculty of Business and Economics
Department
Department of Economics
University Country
Palestine (West Bank)
Degree
Master
Degree Date
2017
English Abstract
This study challenges the Neoliberal perspective relating to the positive impact of microfinance on poverty alleviation.
In particular, this study examines whether microfinance improves household welfare and develops businesses, as perceived by borrowers from ACAD, Asala and Faten’s branches in Ramallah, Palestine.
Eight indicators are used to capture the impact of microfinance on household welfare including income, consumption expenditure, nutrition, education, health care, non-land asset holdings, housing conditions and social empowerment.
In addition, three business indicators are used to examine the impact of microfinance on business development.
These include business sales, profits and capital.
This study also employs four microfinance variables to estimate their impact on household welfare.
These include the cumulative value of microfinance loans, length of participation in microfinance programs, total number of microfinance loans and average annual interest rate.
The logistic regression results show that longer involvement in microfinance programs increases the odds of perceiving improvements in income, consumption expenditure and social empowerment.
Besides, increasing the total number of microfinance loans increases the odds of better-perceived access to health care.
However, higher cumulative value of microfinance loans decreases the odds of better-perceived income, consumption expenditure, education and health care, and higher interest rates decrease the odds of better-perceived income, consumption expenditure, nutrition, education, housing conditions and social empowerment.
Models focusing on business development indicators employ three microfinance variables, namely; cumulative value of microfinance loans, length of involvement in microfinance programs and average annual interest rate.
The study finds that longer involvement in microfinance increases the odds of reporting improvements in business sales, profits and capital.
However, higher interest rates decrease the odds of increased profits while the cumulative value of loans does not impact business development indicators.
Main Subjects
Topics
No. of Pages
135
Table of Contents
Table of contents.
Abstract.
Abstract in Arabic.
Chapter One : Introduction.
Chapter Two : Microfinance in the west bank.
Chapter Three : Literature review.
Chapter Four : Research design and methodology.
Chapter Five : Empirical analysis.
Chapter Six : Discussion.
Chapter Seven : Conclusion.
References.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Isid, Razan. (2017). The impact of microfinance on poverty alleviation : a case study of borrowers in Ramallah. (Master's theses Theses and Dissertations Master). Birzeit University, Palestine (West Bank)
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-762508
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Isid, Razan. The impact of microfinance on poverty alleviation : a case study of borrowers in Ramallah. (Master's theses Theses and Dissertations Master). Birzeit University. (2017).
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-762508
American Medical Association (AMA)
Isid, Razan. (2017). The impact of microfinance on poverty alleviation : a case study of borrowers in Ramallah. (Master's theses Theses and Dissertations Master). Birzeit University, Palestine (West Bank)
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-762508
Language
English
Data Type
Arab Theses
Record ID
BIM-762508