Raj M. Desai|Shareen Joshi
Collective Action and Community Development: Evidence from Self-Help Groups in Rural India
Georgetown University|Georgetown University
response problems high coordination costs among poor efforts underway many countries organize poor selfhelp groups shgsmembershipbased organizations aim promote social cohesion mixture education access finance linkages wider development programs randomly selected villages one poorest districts rural india establish shgs women two years exposure programs increased womens participation group savings programs well nonagricultural labor force compared women control villages treated women also likely participate household decisions engage civic activities find evidence however participation increased income disproportionate impact womens socioeconomic status results important light recent effort expand official support shgs indias national rural livelihood mission