Title: Impact of micro-credit financing on women's empowerment and poverty eradication: an empirical evidence from Pakistan

Authors: Omar Masood; Kiran Javaria

Addresses: Quaid-i-Azam School of Management Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan ' School of Accountancy and Finance, University of Lahore, Islamabad, Pakistan

Abstract: The present study investigates the micro-credit financing (MF) policies implication in developing nation Pakistan. The gaps in literature warrant research on the impact of MF on poverty eradication (PE) and women empowerment (WE) in Pakistan. The data was collected, from micro-credit financing participants and a control group of non-participants, through cluster sampling technique. The study produced an MF model comprising significant constructs MFP, PE and WE. The research reveals that participation in micro-credit finance program eradicates poverty in Pakistan. Participation in MFP also empowers women in Pakistan through poverty eradication. However, the study found that MFP's are not lending to the poorest of the poor. In addition, MFP produces greater social-acceptance, awareness and involvement of women in decision making; and greater control of women over money/assets in Pakistan. Study results are helpful for policy makers so that they can use effective policies in order to eradicate the poverty and unemployment from society.

Keywords: micro-credit finance; women empowerment; poverty eradication; micro-credit finance program; social-acceptance; involvement; decision making.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2020.106471

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2020 Vol.39 No.4, pp.548 - 563

Received: 21 Aug 2017
Accepted: 26 Feb 2018
Published online: 09 Apr 2020 *

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