Public Good Provision in Indian Rural Areas: The Returns to Collective Action by Microfinance Groups

Zaki Wahhaj, Lore Vandewalle and Paolo Casini (paolocasini@gmail.com)

Working Papers from eSocialSciences

Abstract: Self-help groups (SHGs) are the most common form of microfinance in India. The authors provide evidence that SHGs, composed of women only, undertake collective actions for the provision of public goods within village communities. Using a theoretical model, this paper shows that an elected official, whose aim is to maximize re-election chances, exerts higher effort in providing public goods when private citizens undertake collective action and coordinate their voluntary contributions towards the same goods. This effect occurs although government and private contributions are assumed to be substitutes in the technology of providing public goods.

Keywords: Self-Help Groups; Microfinance; Public Goods; Elections; Collective Actions; Finance and Financial Sector Development; Law and Development; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth; Social Development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015-10
Note: Institutional Papers
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Public Good Provision in Indian Rural Areas: The Returns to Collective Action by Microfinance Groups (2017)
Working Paper: Public Good Provision in Indian Rural Areas: the Returns to Collective Action by Microfinance Groups (2015)
Working Paper: Public good provision in Indian rural areas: the returns to collective action by microfinance groups (2015)
Working Paper: Public Good Provision in Indian Rural Areas: the Returns to Collective Action by Microfinance Groups (2011)
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