Does Microfinance Reduce Poverty in Bangladesh? New Evidence from Household Panel Data
利用1997至2004年四轮全国代表性家庭面板数据，研究小额信贷机构贷款对孟加拉国收入、食品消费和女性身体质量指数的影响，发现贷款对食品消费增长有正面作用，支持其减贫效果。
Abstract The study examines whether loans from microfinance institutions (MFI) reduce poverty in Bangladesh drawing upon the nationally representative household panel with four rounds from 1997 to 2004. The effects of general microfinance loans and loans for productive purposes on income, food consumption and women's Body Mass Index are estimated. Overall effects of MFI loans on income and food consumption were positive and the purpose of the loan is important in predicting which household welfare indicator is improved. Alternative estimation methods confirm a positive impact of MFI loans on food consumption growth, which supports the poverty reducing effects of microfinance in Bangladesh.