Microfinance Traps and Relational Exchange Norms: A Field Study of Women Entrepreneurs in Tanzania
通过对坦桑尼亚女性企业家的实地研究，揭示了小额信贷中因家庭情感关系与贷款群体工具性义务冲突导致的陷阱，并基于关系契约理论提出缓解方法。
In interdependent social groups, microfinance traps occur when conflicts arise between borrowers’ affective ties related to family needs and instrumental ties related to obligations toward their loan group. Thus, the social capital that facilitates microfinancing can lead to conflicting obligations toward business needs and economic obligations toward family. Building on an inductive field study among female entrepreneurs in Tanzania, we conceptualize microfinance traps. By using relational contract theory to interpret the qualitative data, we argue that microfinance traps can be reduced by balancing role integrity, preserving norms and reciprocity, and harmonizing the social matrix toward the family and loan group.