Microfinance traps and relational exchange norms: A field study of women entrepreneurs in Tanzania

Marta Lindvert, Pankaj C. Patel and Celina Smith ()
Additional contact information
Marta Lindvert: EM - EMLyon Business School

Post-Print from HAL

Abstract: 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.

Date: 2019-01-01
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Published in Journal of Small Business Management, 2019, 57 (1), 230-254 p

There are no downloads for this item, see the EconPapers FAQ for hints about obtaining it.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-02311916

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in Post-Print from HAL
Bibliographic data for series maintained by CCSD ().