Impact of Microfinance on Social Mobility and Women Empowerment: The Case of South Punjab

Abstract

This purpose of this study was to examine the impact of microfinance on women empowerment and social mobility of women in the under privileged region of Bahawalpur located in south Punjab. The study uses a sample of 772 female clients of two active microfinance institutions, NRSP and Apna bank. A comprehensive questionnaire was used for the survey and results were analyzed through smart PLS. Findings of results suggested that Microfinance is an efficient tool in facilitating social mobility and financial empowerment in women belonging to the region of Bahawalpur. The value and originality of the paper rests with its use of social mobility as a determinant of well being and enhancement in standard of living.

Impact of microfinance on quality of life, personal empowerment and familial harmony of female borrowers in Pakistan

“…The same notion is supported by Subramaniam et al (2013) and Bhatia and Mehandiratta (2014). However, some studies have highlighted indecisive results in the attainment of QOL through microfinance, emphasizing the fact that it may be difficult to reap benefits of microfinance if borrower-specific conditions and requirements are ignored (Khan & Muhammad, 2018;Khan et al, 2020).…”

“…Given the multifaceted nature of the construct of women empowerment and its latent measurements, a few studies have used multiple causal models (Khan, Siddiqui, Saeed & Azam, 2020), some have resorted to experimental design while others like Pitt et al (2006) have used item response theory (IRT) approach where binary responses are added together to form a score. All the methods have been directed at the objective of simplifying the underlying endogenous relationships between latent measurements of the variable, in order to forfeit complexity for discernment.…”

“…All the methods have been directed at the objective of simplifying the underlying endogenous relationships between latent measurements of the variable, in order to forfeit complexity for discernment. This study uses select variables out of a total of 35 factors, as overlaid by Khan, Siddiqui, Saeed & Azam (2020) and general understanding of the thematic contribution through IRT. 5 = none Loan size 1 = 5,000-10,000 Bandyopadhyay (2011) 2 = 10,000-15,000 Banu et al (2000) 3 = 15,000-20,000 Bechetti (2010) 4 = 20,000-25,000 Hashemi et al (1996) 5 = 25,000-more Parveen ( 2007 (Albouy et al, 2010).…”