The Cost of Empowerment: Multiple Sources of Women’s Debt in Rural India
基于印度泰米尔纳德邦农村调查，研究将妇女贷款按可及性和正规性分为“计划贷款”和“即时贷款”，发现即时贷款虽常涉及高利贷和强制催收，却能提升妇女在家庭财务决策中的议价能力，而计划贷款无此效果。
Poor women borrow from multiple sources. This study examines whether the source of debt matters for women’s role in household financial decisions. Drawing on a household survey from rural Tamil Nadu, we categorise women’s loans along the lines of accessibility and formality into ‘planned loans’ and ‘instant loans’. We find that ‘instant loans’ support women’s bargaining power in various types of household financial decisions, whereas ‘planned loans’ have no impact. This surprising result is better understood when the nature of ‘instant loans’ is examined – these are frequently usurious, involve coercive enforcement methods and are considered socially debasing. Hence women who use them perform a convenient role for their households and in return gain some negotiating power.