Journal articles on the topic 'Rural Saving And Loans Association'

This study aim is to explore owners of small enterprises' appreciation of bank’s role in developing their businesses and the challenges that come along in accessing banking services in the context of Sefwi-Bekwai which is a rural community. Questionnaires were used to solicit information from the owners while descriptive statistics aided the data analysis. The study found that the main source of start-up capital is the owner’s funds whiles saving was recorded as the key benefit of banking. It further revealed that the high-interest rate charged was a barrier in accessing loans and the effect of bank relations was sound financial management for the SME’s operations. The paper suggests the need for small enterprise owners in the rural communities to form an association for their benefit in terms of taking advantage of group lending and demanding support and relief from relevant authorities. Improved institutional support would also give small enterprises better access to the information they need for financing and growth.

Purpose This paper aims to examine the factors that influence rural women’s participation in Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) and the savings contribution in the Kassena-Nankana West District of Ghana. The study also analysed the impact of VSLA participation on off-farm income and on poverty. Design/methodology/approach In total, 120 rural women were selected for this study. The probit and heteroskedasticity linear regression models were used to examine the factors that influence VSLA participation and the savings made by members, respectively. The propensity score matching technique, coupled with Rosenbaum Sensitivity analysis, were used to analyse the impact of VSLA on off-farm income and poverty. Findings Demographic and livelihood factors such as human, natural, financial, physical and social capitals have different influences on the participation and the savings contribution in the VSLA. Moreover, VSLA has a significant impact on off-farm income; however, it did not affect poverty. Originality/value Despite the numerous studies on VSLA, there is little evidence of literature of its impact on off-farm income of rural women in West Africa, specifically, Ghana. Thus, this paper expands the frontiers of the existing literature on VSLA impact assessment and the factors that influence the savings made by women in the association.

This study focuses on how the Arisan Gabah Association works in Sobang Sub-district and the benefits generated by the existence of the Arisan Gabah Association in Sobang District. This research method uses a qualitative approach with descriptive methods. The object of the research is farmers Sobang in getting around the needs through Grain Arisan. The results showed that the formation of the Arisan Gabah Association was the result of the independence of Sobang farmers in the economic field. Amid the limitations, Sobang farmers are looking for alternative ways to fulfill their daily needs, one of which is through the establishment of the Arisan Gabah Association. The method of distribution is based on lottery, rotation or savings and loans, and still uses a simple administrative system (management based on family principles). Benefit from an economic perspective as a medium for fulfilling living needs, while from a social perspective as a helping media, interact and take advantage of leisure time. The benefits felt by each member of the Arisan Gabah Association are more positive.

This paper attempts to focus on the impact of micro finance intervention on livelihood status of the people taking samples of 60 respondents of microfinance intervened and 60 non intervened population of Grameen Bikash Bank which lies on remote area of Pokhara, Leknath Metropolitan city and nearby VDCs. The study is based on the randomized control trial approach and data were collected through researcher administered questionnaire. Respondents were taken through stratified sampling. The research finds that microfinance intervention has association with occupational status, micro enterprise creation, frequency of loan taken and occupational change. Independent sample t-test shows micro finance intervention increases income level, capital expenditure, consumption expenditure and saving. The regression analysis shows that micro finance intervention changes the livelihood status of women of rural areas of Pokhara Municipality and nearby VDCs. The Sapta Gandaki JournalVol. IX, 2018 Feb. Page: 62-72

In this paper we examined how participation in savings groups like the Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) influence women’s agency in rural Ghana, i.e. their ability to freely participate in group activities and act on other issues and matters that affect them. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected from VSLA and nonVSLA members to compare the effect between participants and nonparticipants. We used three dimensions of agency adapted from the Women's Empowerment in Agriculture Index (WEAI) to assess female agency: women’s participation and decision making in groups; women’s comfort with public speaking; and women’s decision making in their households. A significant finding of this study is that VSLA membership has enhanced the agency of female participants as they are more economically and socially active and can act on their own compared to women who did not use the savings group.

Abstract The unique feature of the rural credit market in China is the dominance of zero collateral and zero-interest reciprocal lending and its long-term coexistence with the formal loan. This paper investigates the association between formal credit constraint and prevalence of reciprocal loans in rural China. Based on the identification of rural households’ credit constraint status, we examine the effects of credit constraint on the utilization of informal reciprocal loans. We find that formal credit constraint significantly increases rural borrowers’ reliance on reciprocal loans, whereas the “debt of gratitude” imposes an uncertain obligation on rural borrowers, and discourages them from borrowing amongst relatives and friends.

A study was conducted to examine the socio-economic impact of Grameen Bank(GB) income generating loans on rural women in selected areas of Tangail district. The study was conducted to examine the impact of loan on the livelihood improvement of women borrowers. Sixty respondents were purposively selected from 3 villages namely Hemnagar, Volapara and Shimlapara of which 10 were engaged in farming, 21 were engaged in livestock rearing, 19 were engaged in petty business, 5 were engaged in tailoring and 5 were indirectly engaged in van/rickshaw pulling. Tabular and statistical analyses were applied for achieving the objectives. In the study area, higher proportions (55 percent) of women were middle aged and 93 percent were married. About 75 percent had signature ability, 18 and 7 percent studied up to primary and secondary level respectively. Average family size of the respondents was 5.36, average annual income and saving of the respondents were Tk. 65958 and 8770, respectively. Overall income and saving change by taking loan from GB were 36.04% and 68.69% respectively. There was remarkable increase in attitudes and opportunities of the respondents after joining the GB. The findings show that GB loan brought about positive impact on livelihood improvement of the borrowers.J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 8(2): 135-139 2015

The purpose of this study was to understand the role of micro-finance as a tool for women empowerment in Bindura Rural District of Zimbabwe. Qualitative methodology was used. Data collection methods used included semi-structured interviews, documentary search. The respondents for the study were drawn from rural women who had accessed loans from MFI, managers of MFI and the Zimbabwe Association of Micro Finance Institutions. The study found out that access to credit has positive outcomes on production, income, and consumption at household and macro-economic levels. Rural women in Zimbabwe lack adequate access to formal credit. The study found that that lack of adequate access to credit have significant negative effect on technology adoption, agricultural productivity, food security, nutrition, health, and overall welfare. The study concludes that the lack of collateral of the poor, their demand for smaller loans, and high transaction cost associated with small loans are the main factors that the poor are excluded from formal credit services.

Rural tourism in Russia is determined by established traditions, the peculiarities of the agricultural sector and share of rural population in total population.The National Association of rural tourism organizations has been created in Russia. Rural tourism clusters have also been created as a basis for developing infrastructure. The government supports the projects of small and medium-sized businesses with subsidies and preferential loans with the creation of a tourism cluster. However, the problem of information security, the standardization of the service and the evaluation of service quality in rural tourism, transport accessibility, training of qualified personnel have not been solved yet.

Rural tourism in Russia is determined by established traditions, the peculiarities of the agricultural sector and share of rural population in total population.The National Association of rural tourism organizations has been created in Russia. Rural tourism clusters have also been created as a basis for developing infrastructure. The government supports the projects of small and medium-sized businesses with subsidies and preferential loans with the creation of a tourism cluster. However, the problem of information security, the standardization of the service and the evaluation of service quality in rural tourism, transport accessibility, training of qualified personnel have not been solved yet.

This study investigated Central Broadcasting Services’ Project to Empower Women in Savings and Loan Associations (CBS-PEWOSA) in Nsangi sub-county, Wakiso district, Uganda. Data was gathered from members of the associations using questionnaires, key informant interviews and focus group discussions. The findings showed that the project has increased awareness about and knowledge of solutions to community development problems ranging from culture, rural development, education, and women empowerment to agriculture. Communities have been mobilized to form groups, save and borrow to invest in Small and Medium Enterprises, which has led to improvements in their livelihoods. However, illiteracy, resistance to new ideas, under funding and limited airtime allocated to development programs on the radio are constraining the project. Recommendations for the improved effectiveness of the project are made.
 Keywords: Media; Radio; CBS PEWOSA; Livelihoods

In this article, the authors, based on the principles of historicism and objectivity, using the statistical method and a systematic approach, analyzed the first steps in the development of cooperative societies in the rural environment using the example of the Volga region provinces. The factors and conditions were identified, the totality of which influenced the rate of spread and development of cooperative forms of management in the peasant environment during the post-reform period. This is, firstly, the urgent economic need for the peasant in inexpensive credit: the lack of financial resources forced them to borrow from usurers at a high interest rate; secondly, the efforts of representatives of the aristocracy, intelligentsia and zemstvos to draw attention to this problem, to promote and demonstrate the first experiences of cooperative work; thirdly, the actions of the state to create and develop cooperative legislation. The authors analyze examples of cooperative endeavors that were initiated by the most enlightened people of their time; trace the activities of the zemstvo in the dissemination of cooperative ideas in the peasant environment, the promotion of cooperative knowledge, assistance in opening cooperative partnerships and the provision of initial loans to peasants by rural credit and savings and loan associations; state measures at the legislative level to activate peasant self-help. The analysis of all the above factors in the development of cooperative societies in the peasant environment allowed the authors, following the ups and downs of the processes described, to draw a conclusion about their interaction and influence on the development of the cooperative movement in Russia. In zemstvo and state circles, an understanding has been formed that without the inclusion of peasants in a market economy, it is impossible to develop the infrastructure of the agricultural sector. At the same time, the authors are convinced that without the gradually emerging objective conditions, all these efforts would hardly have been justified.

This research aims to compile the programs for poverty alleviation by community empowerment model and review the determination program as effectiveness evaluation poverty alleviation program which still can’t be worked properly. Stages the compiling program of poverty alleviation is mapping the socioeconomic conditions of the poor, basic infrastructure conditions, socio-cultural issues, and potential issues; identifying the hopes and predicting the economic development opportunities; creating the poverty alleviation program by SWOT analysis and planning implementation program with KPD. Based on the result of SWOT and scoring analysis, the selected programs are training and assistance, the establishment of cooperative saving and loans, clean water for poor households, rural development with the utilization of clean water, household waste management, and package education program A, B, and C.

ABSTRAK
 Terwujud sebuah pembangunan yang berlandaskan pada pemberdayaan, yakni melalui sebuah program pemerintah bernama ‘Program Nasional Pemberdayaan Masyarakat Mandiri (PNPM Mandiri). Penelitian ini mengenai program PNPM Mandiri yang berfokus pada Capaian Program PNPM Mandiri Pedesaan melalui pogram simpan pinjam perempuan (SPP) untuk pemberdayaan masyarakat di desa sawarna kecamatan bayah. Dari ketiga program bidang yang ada tulisan ini akan membahas program pembangunan di bidang ekonomi. Yang dalam implementasinya di Desa Sawarna, program ini disebut sebagai ‘Program Simpan Pinjam Perempuan(SPP). Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah metode deskriptif kualitatif, dengan informan adalah para Perempuan anggota kelompok di kecamatan tersebut. Teknik pengumpulan data yang digunakan adalah teknik wawancara, dan instrumennya berbentuk pedoman wawancara. Adapun teknik analisis datanya adalah analisis data secara induktif. Hasil temuan lapangan menunjukkan bahwa , pada proses pelaksanaannya PNPM Mandiri Pedesaan di Desa Sawarna menghasilkan dampak positif dan negatif bagi masyarakat (perempuan). Diantaranya telah mampu membantu masyarakat lokal dalam meningkatkan taraf hidup mereka, khususny para perempuan di lingkungan desa sawarna. Melalui Program SPP kaum perempuan menjadi berdaya dan dapat mampu bermetamorfosa menjadi pribadi yang aktif. Dengan bantuan dana yang diberikan kepada kaum perempuan sehingga mampu mengembangkan usaha mikro yang mereka miliki menjadi lebih baik, serta mereka mampu terbebas dari jeratan ‘bank keliling’. Akan tetapi masih ada kekurangan dari pelaksanaan program tersebut, sehingga proram SPP menjadi kurang maksimal. Maka dalam hasil penelitian ini akan disajikan beberapa rekomendasi untuk melengkapi kekurangan yang ada.
 
 Kata Kunci : Program PNPM mandiri, Program simpan pinjam perempuan, Pemberdayaan Masyarakat Desa Sawarna
 
 ABSTRACT
 A development based on empowerment is realized, namely through a government program called ‘Mandiri Community Empowerment National Program (PNPM Mandiri). This research is about the PNPM Mandiri program which focuses on the Achievement of the PNPM Mandiri Rural Program through the women's savings and loan program (SPP) for community empowerment in Sawarna village, Bayah sub-district. Of the three field programs that exist this paper will discuss development programs in the economic field. Which in its implementation in Sawarna Village, this program is referred to as the ‘Women's Savings and Loan Program (SPP). The method used in this study is a qualitative descriptive method, with informants being women group members in the sub-district. Data collection techniques used are interview techniques, and the instruments are in the form of interview guidelines. The data analysis technique is inductive data analysis. The field findings show that, in the implementation process of PNPM Mandiri Rural in Sawarna Village produced positive and negative impacts on the community (women). Among them have been able to help local people improve their lives, especially women in the Sawarna village. Through the SPP Program women become empowered and can be able to morph into an active person. With financial assistance given to women so that they can develop their own micro-businesses to be better, and they are able to be free from the entanglement of 'mobile banks'. However, there are still shortcomings in the implementation of the program, so that the SPP program becomes less than optimal. So in the results of this study there will be a number of recommendations to complement the shortcomings.
 
 Keywords: PNPM mandiri program, the Save Program loan women, empowerment of village community Sawarna

<p><em>Despite the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) initiatives to encourage banks to extend their services and facilities to rural areas, a high percentage of the rural dwellers still remain unbanked and as such, the initiatives appear not to promote financial inclusion services among the poor in Nigeria. As a result, small entrepreneurs often lack enabling financial environment to grow. The study undertakes an empirical analysis of the impact of microfinance in promoting financial inclusion in Nigeria between 1990 and 2014 using OLS regression method. Unit root test was conducted on the variables to examine their level of stationary to avoid spurious regression results. The findings showed that minimum deposit amount have a positive and significant relationship with saving. It was observed that access to microfinance minimum deposit amount has significant effect on savings account opened by rural dwellers. Microfinance interest rate was however found to have a negative and insignificant relationship with the rural dwellers loans and advances.</em><em> </em><em>Recommendations were made among which are that Government should facilitate microfinance branches close to the rural area, products and services accessible to a large segment of the potentially productive Nigeria population, who are currently not being served by the formal financial sector.</em></p>

This study aims to describe the form of local wisdom (cultural value) in rural microfinance — this study conducted from October until December 2018 in Wangga Village, East Sumba. A qualitative method was used to picture the phenomenon of local wisdom-based microfinance development in communities. The authors used in-depth interviews with eight informants from the Rinjung Pahamu Farmer’s Group Association. The eight informants were determined purposively. Also, the data collection was carried out through a focus group discussion with the Rinjung Pahamu Farmer’s Group Association. The results of the study show that the local wisdom experienced by the members of the Rinjung Pahamu Farmer’s Group Association was used to overcome the limited access to formal financial services. The forms of microfinance developed on the Island of Sumba could not be separated from the appreciation of the noble values (Marapu) adopted by the community, such as the philosophy of Pawandang, Hillu Kandutuku, and Rotu Padang. Furthermore, savings and loan activities carried out in the management of the Farmer’s Group Association always consider the aspects of justice and survival. Based on the successful experience of the Rinjung Pahamu Farmer’s Group Association, in the future, the cultural value as the basis for the microfinance development can be applied to other groups as a means to improve financial access among the poor, especially for those living in rural areas. Marapu’s belief that was adopted by the people in Wangga Village still used as the basis for carrying out various activities in people’s lives. Marapu’s view is the belief that the government acknowledges pride, and it strengthens the community to maintain survival and balance. It practised through the Pawandang, Hillu Kandutuku, and Rotu Padang activities.

Rural Agribusiness Development (PUAP) is a program to provide capital for smallholder in the agricultural sector. The final goal of this program is to format Agribusiness Micro Credit Institutions (LKMA) in rural. In the implementation 6,887 LKMAs have been formed, including in Magelang Regency. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the LKMA and its benefit for farmers’ capital fulfillment. The survey was conducted in July 2019 using the FGD method with administrators and interviews with the farmer using a questionnaire. The evaluation focused on the institutional, business, and capital development aspects. The data analyzed through the ranking method to determine the LKMA rank. Of the 9 LKMA, the best LKMA is Ngudi Luhur LKMA, with criteria (i) the institutional aspect is already incorporated, has an office, employees with a fixed monthly salary; (ii) business aspects: saving and loan business carried out based on SOP of financial institutions and (iii) of capital development have reached 3.3 billion. However, loans only cover less than 30% of farmers’ needs due to the limited availability of LKMA capital. Therefore, it is recommended to assist capital loan assistance to LKMA, which will then be transmitted to farmmers.

This paper examines the uses of remittances in various household activities by remittance-receiving households in rural Nepal. Specifically, this paper focuses on the allocation of (a) remittances in agriculture and other dimensions of household activities, and (b) whether there is any association between the amount of remittances received and the amount allocated by households to agriculture and other dimensions. This study utilizes the detailed household level data (n=139 remittance-receiving households) collected from the Chitwan Valley in 2014, a rural migrant-sending setting of southern Nepal that collected remittances received by households and remittance used in various household activities with monthly precision in the past 12 months. Using the multilevel multivariate OLS regression, the results showed that of the total amount of remittances used, farming (e.g. purchase of seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides) received only about 3.1 percent. In contrast, a large proportion of remittance was used in buying fixed assets such as land, houses, and jewelry (27.1%), followed by food and vegetables (15.3%), savings and business investment (12.3%), loan payment (11.0%), education, (11.2%), and health (4.1%). Adjusted results from multivariate analysis (multilevel OLS) showed that the amount of remittances received by households was not significantly associated with its use in farming. However, the amount of remittances received was positively associated with the amount used in buying fixed assets, media (electronic) items, clothing, covering cultural expenses, paying utilities, and repaying debt. Implications from the findings are presented.

The paper outlines major preconditions of development of energy efficiency programs and the process of their introduction from the perspective of sustainable development concept. Energy saving measures of European Union are examined, its experience and results, like green books and Thermie programs, etc are analyzed. The paper also specifies relevant activities and responsibilities undertaken by Member States by 2030 and the rates planned to be achieved. The experience of neighboring Poland in energy efficiency promotion is analyzed, as far as the country most closely resembles Ukraine by the initial rates in 1990. We calculated conditional losses of Ukraine in 2017 as the gap between the rates of energy efficiency of Ukraine and Poland (similarity of climate conditions and the state of housing funds allowed us to assume that the comparison will be the most correct regarding Ukraine). The results of calculations make us conclude that the funds are used most efficiently if the money designated, for example, for subsidizing of population are directed at strengthening of energy efficiency (at least up to the level of neighboring country). It will result in saving of about 40 billion. This is the amount defined as Ukrainian capacity in terms of improvement of energy saving and possible results of its realization. The paper determines the stage Ukraine is at in introduction of energy efficiency measures and programs: “warm loans” program; conditions regarding energy saving in Ukraine enshrined in the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement; creation of legal basis, namely the Law of Ukraine “On Energy Efficiency Fund” as of 8 June 2017. The role of newly created Energy Efficiency Fund is analyzed. Special attention is paid to the fact that energy efficient construction is one of international liabilities undertaken by Ukraine. The presence of The Active House Alliance at Ukrainian market is an important achievement in this sphere as it is the non-profit association aiming at creation of housing concept corresponding to the sustainable development principles.

Income inequality is a major problem in Thailand. A key determinant of income inequality in Thailand is the lack of financial access to financial institutions for low-income families. Microfinance institutions (MFIs) play an important role in enabling poor households to access financial resources at a reasonable cost. The purpose of this paper is to investigate factors that affect Thai households participating in microfinance programs in Thailand. A multinomial logit model is used to investigate the factors that impact the Thai households’ access to microfinance. The study employs secondary data from the Thai Socioeconomic Survey (cross-sectional data in 2017) to identify factors affecting Thai household participation in microfinance programs. The results show that the Village Fund (VF) targets low-income rural households and encourages those with older household heads who have lower levels of education, and female household heads, to participate in their program. Larger households are more likely to access the VF. Households with higher dependency ratios are less likely to borrow from the VF. Households with well-educated, young household heads in regional areas are more likely to borrow money from Saving Groups for Production (SGPs). SGP borrower households have higher household incomes than VF borrower households. Our findings indicate that VFs and SGPs are credit sources in the rural credit market; these sources enable rural households to access credit to meet their needs. In addition, rural Thai households borrow from many sources so that they can rotate their loan repayments. Low-income households refinance their loans by borrowing from different sources.

A study was conducted to assess the adequacy, utilization and repayment of Grameen Bank (GB) income generating loans on rural women in selected areas of Tangail district. The study was conducted with socio-economic characteristics of the women borrowers, assessing the adequacy, utilization and repayment of loan. With this end in view, 60 respondents were purposively selected from three villages namely Hemnagar, Volapara and Shimlapara of which 10 were engaged in farming, 21 were engaged in livestock rearing, 19 were engaged in petty business, 5 were engaged in tailoring and 5 were indirectly engaged in van/rickshaw pulling. Tabular and statistical analyses were applied for achieving the objectives. In the study area, higher proportions (55 per cent) of women were middle aged and 93 percent were married. About 75 percent had signature ability, 18 and 7 per cent studied up to primary and secondary level respectively. Average family size of the respondents was5.36; average annual income and saving of the respondents were Tk. 65958.05 and 8769.65 respectively. Six explanatory variables i.e. Age, education, family size, occupation, income and expenditure were considered for repayment of loan in empirical model. Age, family size, income and expenditure had significant impact on repayment of loan. Average amount of credit received by the respondents was Tk. 8139 and on an average 82 percent of the loaned money was utilized for the reported IGAs. Due to poor economic condition, the respondents could not utilize the total loaned money in productive purposes. Overall loan recovery percentage was found to be quite satisfactory. They repaid their loan on time with the hope of getting more credit in future and because of regular supervision by the bank’s field level workers and pressure of the group leaders.J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 8(2): 131-134 2015

This study investigated the relevance of Cocoa Life Project interventions implemented by World Vision Ghana to the development of beneficiary communities using the Wassa East District as a case. The views of members who were mostly farmers, gari processors, soap makers, and members of village savings and loans associations from beneficiary communities were considered in a sequential-dependence mixed method research approach. A total of 406 respondents were selected using stratified, simple random and convenience sampling methods, with 84.2 percent response rate for the quantitative data. Research instruments were interview schedule and focus group discussion guide. Means and standard deviation were used for quantitative analysis whilst thematic analysis was done for the qualitative data. The study observed that WVG’s project interventions were highly relevant to education, business development, financial literacy, microcredit facilities, agriculture, and livelihood diversification within beneficiary communities. Also, awareness creation was one of the main communication tools WVG relied upon in promoting community development in the district. Though the interventions led to behaviour change, there were concerns with the overall change in behaviour within the communities. Besides, beneficiary communities had diverse development needs which could only be understood through appropriate and well-planned development communication strategies and approaches. As part of the recommendations, WVG should collaborate with Mondelez International and local authorities to come out with measures to improve upon job creation, behaviour change at the community level, health care services, and water and sanitation in Cocoa Life communities.

The purpose of the paper is to highlight the role of microfinance for women empowerment. The study is a descriptive study design. Many developmental activities and programs are implemented in the society but microfinance programs are strong rural based and deprived women oriented and targeted to the marginalized people. Microfinance is an effective and powerful instrument for women empowerment. The number of challenges ahead of women empowerment are poor economic status, illiterate, unskilled, unemployment, low access in land, housing, transportation, electricity and family decision. It is considered as one of the most effective poverty alleviation tools. Microfinance services are considered as an entry point or vehicle towards empowering women. Members of microfinance institution (MFIs) have more contribution to saving and income generating activities, household decision making and activities beyond household sector. Although many programs have been implemented for poverty alleviation, only microfinance programs are seen as poor and rural women based. Microfinance is one of the best alternatives to generate self-employment specially the poor women in the rural areas. It provides services to them who have no collateral to offer against the loans. Women who could gain access to microfinance services have been able to create self-employment opportunities and have been economically and socially empowered through increased income through small projects. Microfinance has a profound impact on the economic status, decision making power, knowledge and self-worthiness of women, community activities and self-help group programs. The study reveals that there is a positive relationship between microfinance and women empowerment. Microfinance becomes catalyst for social change and women's empowerment.

This work underlines the close association of interests between the ecclesiastical sources of credit and the social elite of the Archbishopric of Mexico. Although the availability of credit was not restricted to the top members of the socio-economic hierarchy, the wealthiest money-lending religious institutions showed a marked preference for that group. Large merchants, choice members of the local and viceregal bureaucracy, and considerable range of rural property owners received preferential treatment from credit institutions in the allocation of their loans. The author provides data on the operations of the Juzgado de Capellanías, and several confraternities and nunneries of the capital of the Vice-royalty in the last two decades of the eighteenth century.

This article examines the cultural dimensions of financial credit and debt, placing these against a deeper and broader background of entrustments and obligations. A standard response of the largest international aid agencies to African rural poverty has been to set up programmes to lend money and other resources to rural people without understanding what the borrowers already owe to other creditors and claimants, or how strong these competing claims are. The history of credit programmes has been a history of dismal failures and of disappointments for borrowers and lender alike, particularly where land mortgages have been involved. Intensive field research reveals that Luo farmers in Kenya, like other East Africans, already have a broad assortment of borrowings and lendings of their own, some far more meaningful to them than loans from banks, co-operatives, or marketing boards will ever be. Some are only partly economic in nature; some involve sacred trusts or important political contacts. Land, labour, animals, money, and humans themselves are all objects of entrustment and obligation among kin, neighbours, or other familiars. Farmers channel resources from socially distant institutions into uses that are often locally more meaningful than those their lenders intend; and they may not be at liberty to convert them back into liquid forms for repayment. Requirements of land title collateral misfit a cultural context where attachments to land, and to ancestral graves on it, symbolise an individual's or family's social identity. More broadly, the credit strategy of development aid needs rethinking. Rather than continuing to enmesh rural Africans in debts and uncertainties, those who purport to help reduce poverty in rural Africa should shift their strategy from lending to encouraging saving and investment, or to promoting other kinds of locally rooted initiatives not financial in nature.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide evidence of the positive impact of the FCS lending on farm incomes which should be useful to policymakers as they consider reforms and further support for this 100-year-old major agricultural lender. Design/methodology/approach The authors construct a panel for the 1991-2010 period from the FCS financial statements and evaluate how lending by the FCS institutions has affected farm incomes and farm output. The authors use fixed effects estimations and control for credit by other agricultural lenders as well as the stock of capital, prices, and interest rates. Since previous work suggests that rural financial markets are segmented and the FCS serves larger full-time farmers with mostly real-estate backed loans, the authors evaluate the impacts of farm real-estate backed loans and of short-term agricultural loans separately for a shorter period for which the data is available. The authors also perform robustness checks with alternative estimation techniques. Findings The authors found a positive association between credit by the FCS institutions and farm income and output. The magnitude of the estimated impact is larger during the 1990s than in the 2000s. Research limitations/implications The positive link between the FCS institutions’ credit and farm incomes and output supports the notion that the FCS lending was beneficial to farmers. The evidence also supports the segmentation hypothesis of rural financial markets. The financial reports data for 1991-2010 are from the ACAs and FLCAs aggregated on the regional level because there is no clear way to classify FCS lending to a more disaggregate level like the state. The authors also assemble and analyze a state-level data set that contains state-level balance sheet data for the period 1991-2003. Originality/value The authors are not aware of another work that directly links (real estate and non-real estate) credit by FCS institutions to agricultural output and farm incomes.

Purpose – In this paper, the authors set out to establish if there is a link between finance and economic growth in rural areas. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the relation between credit by major lenders in rural areas – commercial banks and Farm Credit System (FCS) institutions – and economic growth for the period 1991-2010. Design/methodology/approach – The motivation for this work comes from empirical studies showing a link between economic development and financial system development as well as from work which highlights the positive role of long-term finance provided by banks. The authors use two alternative panel data sets and fixed effects models to estimate the causal effect of credit supply (with lagged explanatory variables) on agricultural GDP growth per rural resident. Findings – The authors find a positive association between agricultural lending and agricultural GDP growth per rural resident with additional billion in loans (about a third of the actual average) associated with 7-10 percent higher state growth rate with this association stronger during the 1990s. Regional data confirm these results. The results point to a positive link between credit and economic growth in rural areas during that period, attributable to the lending by FCS institutions and by commercial banks. Research limitations/implications – Data availability limits the scope of this paper. The authors use state level balance sheet data available for the 1991-2003 period and annual data for 2003-2010 period. An additional regional data set is constructed for 1991-2010 with more aggregated data for the ten USDA agricultural production regions. The small number of panels limits the ability to use more sophisticated econometric models and the choice of dependent variables that captures economic growth. Practical implications – By provides evidence that agricultural finance and in particular lending contribute significantly to the growth of US agriculture, this paper contributes to the policy debate on weather support for agricultural finance initiatives is justified. Originality/value – The authors are not aware of another study that has linked agricultural lending by commercial banks and FCS institutions to growth in rural areas in the USA.

Poverty is one of the socioeconomic challenges bed evilling many families, particularly the northern states of Nigeria. This study applied qualitative research paradigm and generated the perceptions of informants via convinience sampling. We analyzed the data through thematic, narrative and interactional apparoach. Our objective is to explore microfinance institutions strategic policies for poverty reduction and recommend to policy makers. The results exposed that micro financial institutions were classified into formal, informal, development and those with mortgage outlook.The Central Bank of Nigeria issue the certificate for authorization, the licensing and ownership. The Paid-up capital requirements, the permissible and acceptance of deposits, savings from individuals, groups and associations were the policies which propel these institutions. The non-permissible policies are restrictions on acceptance of public sector deposits. The study identified inadequate supervsions and loans defaults, poor infrasturectural facilities in rural areas, pitiable communication and derisory banking experience among the poor and low income earners, limited standardization and operating system as well hampered their services in the quest to mitigate poverty in the study area.The re-capitalization, efffective regulatory control via financial control, regularly supervision, checks and balances. Capacity building programs and Proper staffing.Provision of appropriate business model; strategies and creation of awareness. The provision of door to door banking marketing awareness, establishment of financial literacy; consumer protection programs and Provision of non-interest banking programs were perceived to overcome the perils of these institutions respectively. The study recommended for establishment of Islamic financial institutions and Takaful insurance scheme.

Introduction: Antenatal care (ANC) is the care of a pregnant woman required to ensure a healthy pregnancy and safe childbirth. According to the World Health Organization to achieve the full life-saving potential for pregnant women and babies, minimum four ANC visits are essential. Quality and quantity of ANC visit depends on socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, awareness and attitude of the individual. To get the benefits from ANC services awareness among pregnant women and their family members are very important.
 Objective: To evaluate the awareness about ANC service among the pregnant women attending Upazila Health Complex of a rural community.
 Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among the pregnant women attending the outpatient department of Kaligonj Upazila Health Complex, Gazipur, Bangladesh from January to March 2017. Data were collected by face-to-face interview of the respondents using a structured questionnaire. Chi-square (χ2) test was done to see the association among the respondents’ socio-demographic characteristics with awareness about ANC services.
 Result: Respondents’ age range was 16-40 years and 61.9% were below 25 years and 71.1% married before 20 years. More than half (66.5%) of the respondents’ found aware about pregnancy danger sign, safe delivery and benefits of ANC service. This study found a significant (p<0.05) association between socio-demographic characteristics and awareness about ANC services of respondents.
 Conclusion: Overall knowledge and awareness level on different component and benefits of ANC visit were below the national standard. To improve the community awareness and practice on ANC services community campaign is recommended.
 Journal of Armed Forces Medical College Bangladesh Vol.13(2) 2017: 11-14

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore smallholder agricultural financing in Ghana’s Northern region by identifying farmers’ preferred traditional and innovative financing methods and estimating the determinants of use of innovative financing methods. Design/methodology/approach This paper presented a list of documented traditional financing methods to farmers during in-depth interviews and employed descriptive statistics to summarize choice and amounts sourced from traditional methods. Two questions from the survey revealed a felt need for extra financing sources for credit-rationed farmers. Farmers with positive responses to either or both questions were classified as “users of innovative financing”. The authors then used a probit model to examine factors that influence decisions to use innovative financing method. Findings Farmers’ own savings, reinvesting past season’s profits and financing maize production with income from other commercial crops were the most popular traditional methods. The authors found complementary relations between formal and informal lending systems in the rural financial market. Smallholders also took farm and non-farm “by-day” jobs to raise income for farm investment and/or joined Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) specifically to take advantage of possible credit opportunities. These two latter methods were operationalized in this study as innovative agricultural financing. The results show that access to credit, social capital and market participation increased the likelihood of using innovative financing methods. Alternatively, farmer group membership, diversity in crop production and being a household head diminished the likelihood of innovative financing use. Practical implications The activities of VSLAs can be regulated and expanded to spread its benefits to more farmers. Also, creating avenues for dry season labour market participation in the region could enable farmers raise capital for farm investment. Originality/value This study explores existing practices and farmer innovations to agricultural financing and, by so doing, deviates from the vast literature focussing mainly on microcredit provisioning as the main model of smallholder agricultural financing in Africa.

The present study was carried out in the rural area of Meerut district, with the objective to find out the study the performance of SHGs and problems faced by the SHGs in the study area. As a part of primary data collection, a sample (random) of 110 women respondents were selected out of 22 SHGs operating in the district. The data was collected during the period July 2018 - Dec 2018. A self-help is a small, economically and attractive group of 10-20 rural people which comes together to save small amounts regularly. It generally performs various types of economic activities with the help of their small savings. Self-help groups are informal association of women. The main purpose of such an association is to enable members to mobilization of savings and credit facilities gain economic benefits out of mutual help, solidarity and social responsibility. SHGs is the group based approach, which helps the women members of each SHGs to accumulate capital by way of small saving and helping them to get credit facilities from their funds. Presently, the women of the society are facing the financial problem to start business or to undertake different economic activities to become self-employed and self-reliant.

The micro-finance institutions are providing service to the people with the noble purpose to improve their socio-economic status which ultimately helps to reduce the poverty Nepal. In the Nepalese context, micro-finance institutions are providing the equal services to all people living in the remote and rural areas. The main objective of this study was to identify the economic importance of micro-finance institutions for poor and non-poor communities of Nepal. The study was conducted in Syangja district among the 385 beneficiaries of micro-finance. This study found that there was no significant association between the poor and non-poor people regarding the success of small scale business with the support of micro-finance, and increasing the amount of saving because p = .524 and .402 respectively which was greater than .05 significant levels. The difference could be observed in the increase in income level of poor and non-poor. Slight better improvement could be seen among the poor people, there was significant association between poor and non-poor because of p = .019.

Chit funds are a form of Rotating Saving and Credit Association (ROSCA) prevalent in India. In this institution, a group of individuals pool in equal amounts of money at a fixed frequency, and at every time period a round of competitive bidding takes place among the individuals to identify a borrower for the collected amount. The borrower foregoes his/her right to participate in further auctions, but continues paying his/her share of the pool till every individual in the group has collected the pooled amount. The auction process relies on the bidders’ willingness to give up a certain amount of the pool and take the rest as loan. The amount given up at every time period is shared equally among all individuals in the group. A chit fund, therefore, is structurally similar to the modern formal banking and financial institutions: they act as an intermediary to optimally mobilize funds collected from savers to borrowers and manage repayment of loans from borrowers such that savers receive their dues at the appropriate time. The latter role exposes the industry to credit risk. Modern banking and financial institutions rely heavily on their ability to assess and mitigate credit risk; and, over the last century, they have been able to move from a system where risk assessment was based on human judgment and simple intuition to a system reliant on statistical and mathematical techniques. However, the standard chit fund company still relies heavily on human judgment for assessing risk. The pilot envisages a move towards a standardized statistical methodology for risk assessment and mitigation as the path ahead for the industry.

BackgroundBetween 2015 and 2018, three civil society organisations in Rwanda implemented Indashyikirwa, a four-part intervention designed to reduce intimate partner violence (IPV) among couples and within communities. We assessed the impact of the programme’s gender transformative curriculum for couples.MethodsSectors (n=28) were purposively selected based on density of village savings and loan association (VLSA) groups and randomised (with stratification by district) to either the full community-level Indashyikirwa programme (n=14) or VSLA-only control (n=14). Within each sector, 60 couples recruited from VSLAs received either a 21-session curriculum or VSLA as usual. No blinding was attempted. Primary outcomes were perpetration (for men) or experience (for women) of past-year physical/sexual IPV at 24 months post-baseline, hypothesised to be reduced in intervention versus control (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03477877).ResultsWe enrolled 828 women and 821 men in the intervention sectors and 832 women and 830 men in the control sectors; at endline, 815 women (98.4%) and 763 men (92.9%) in the intervention and 802 women (96.4%) and 773 men (93.1%) were available for intention-to-treat analysis. Women in the intervention compared with control were less likely to report physical and/or sexual IPV at 24 months (adjusted relative risk (aRR)=0.44, 95% CI 0.34 to 0.59). Men in the intervention compared with control were also significantly less likely to report perpetration of physical and/or sexual IPV at 24 months (aRR=0.54, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.75). Additional intervention benefits included reductions in acceptability of wife beating, conflict with partner, depression, and corporal punishment against children and improved conflict management, communication, trust, self-efficacy, self-rated health, household earnings, food security and actions to prevent IPV. There were no study-related harms.ConclusionsThe Indashyikirwa couples’ training curriculum was highly effective in reducing IPV among male/female couples in rural Rwanda. Scale-up and adaptation to similar settings should be considered.

Labour supply is a key element in socio-economic development, and although the size, growth and composition of population have a strong bearing on its supply in an economy, the actual labour supply is a function of the labour force participation rate defined as the ratio of the population engaged in or seeking gainful employment to the working-age population. In Pakistan gainful employment means not only work for pay or profit but also unpaid help from family members, and the working-age population refers to the group of those aged 10 years or more. Although the use of labour force for computing participation rates has been criticised on the ground that it lays undue emphasis on market activities which have little relevance tb the less developed countries, particularly to the rural sector, (Standing 1978), it is nonetheless useful in studying household decisions regarding allocation of available time between productive and non-productive activities (Rees 1973). It is basically this division of labour between productive and non-productive activities that sheds light on the degree of development of an economy and, therefore, on the organization of factors of production (Yotopoulos 1986). The significance of rural participation rates, especially those of females, is noteworthy in this regard as there is a positive association between female productive work and the level of development achieved (Denti 1968). Female participation rates are also important for a proper understanding of the productive and reproductive roles of the population. As more than 70 percent of rural population depends on agriculture for its livelihood and rural females are nearly half of the total, their participation rates may be of critical importance in determining the rates of saving, investment and productivity in agriculture. It may also be noted that availability of labour in agriculture is also a function of the ready availability of female labour, especially for such operations as are performed exclusively by females, e.g. cotton picking.

Aims In countries with social healthcare systems, such as Canada, patients may experience long wait times and a decline in their health status prior to their operation. The aim of this study is to explore the association between long preoperative wait times (WT) and acute hospital length of stay (LoS) for primary arthroplasty of the knee and hip. Methods The study population was obtained from the provincial Patient Access Registry Nova Scotia (PARNS) and the Canadian national hospital Discharge Access Database (DAD). We included primary total knee and hip arthroplasties (TKA, THA) between 2011 and 2017. Patients waiting longer than the recommended 180 days Canadian national standard were compared to patients waiting equal or less than the standard WT. The primary outcome measure was acute LoS postoperatively. Secondarily, patient demographics, comorbidities, and perioperative parameters were correlated with LoS with multivariate regression. Results A total of 11,833 TKAs and 6,627 THAs were included in the study. Mean WT for TKA was 348 days (1 to 3,605) with mean LoS of 3.6 days (1 to 98). Mean WT for THA was 267 days (1 to 2,015) with mean LoS of 4.0 days (1 to 143). There was a significant increase in mean LoS for TKA waiting longer than 180 days (2.5% (SE 1.1); p = 0.028). There was no significant association for THA. Age, sex, surgical year, admittance from home, rural residence, household income, hospital facility, the need for blood transfusion, and comorbidities were all found to influence LoS. Conclusion Surgical WT longer than 180 days resulted in increased acute LoS for primary TKA. Meeting a shorter WT target may be cost-saving in a social healthcare system by having shorter LoS. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2021;2(8):679–684.

Formulation of problem. The article is focused on the analysis of trends of development of credit unions and the basis for scientific and practical recommendations regarding increasing the financial potential of credit unions in system of development of small forms of agrarian business. The aim of research is the development of theoretical aspects and practical recommendations regarding increasing the financial potential of credit unions in system of development of small forms of governance in agrarian area. The object of the research is the financial potential of credit unions. Methods, used in research: generalization, comparison, logical and informative, scientific knowledge, induction, analysis. The hypothesis of the research: analytical evaluation of development trends of credit unions for identification of the feasibility of fund-raising for small forms agrarian business. The statement of basic materials. The dynamics of quantity of credit unions, the number of persons included by them, the amount of capital, loan and deposit portfolio, risks of activity is analysed as a whole and in the frames of all -Ukrainian association. The critical estimation of le gal status and prudential regulation is provided, their influence on the disclosure of financial potential of credit unions and their advantages for small forms of agrarian business as representation in regions with developed agricultural production, territorial accessibility, the opportunity of to give modest amouts of credit sums for a long term for household plots and farms is determined. The originality and practical significance of the research is the development of recommendations regarding support for small forms of governance in agrarian area by credit unions. Conclusions and perspectives of further researches. Credit unions (CU) have significant competitive advantages over banks at the level of consumer loans and credit for rural commodity producers. Therefore, free fund-raising of credit unions will play an important role in the development of small forms of governance in agrarian area.

Background: Malnutrition is significant contributor of childhood morbidity and mortality in developing countries. More than 1/3rd of world’s severely malnourished children live in India. The aim was to evaluate the clinical-epidemiological profile and co-morbidities of SAM (severe acute malnutrition) children and to recognize socio-demographic risk factors of SAM children.Methods: It was a prospective hospital based case study. The prospective hospital based study was conducted from September 2018 to February 2020 and included children less than 5 years admitted to an paediatrics ward and satisfying the WHO definition of SAM. Data were entered in Microsoft excel sheet and SPSS software version 16 for windows was used for analysis.Results: 112 patients were taken for study. Mean age of admitted children were 16±3 months. Male:female ratio was 1:1.22. SAM is more common in nuclear families (N=67, 59.83%), illiterate mothers (N=72, 62.48%), children with high birth order more than 3 (N=42, 37%) and low socioeconomically status Kuppaswamy IV (N=72, 64.28%).The most common associated infections were acute gastroenteritis (82.14) and respiratory tract infections (54.20%). Hypoglycaemia (14.28) was the most common metabolic complication. The most commonly used supplementary food used was over diluted cow milk (43.67%).Conclusions: The problem of SAM is multifactorial (rural background, low socioeconomic status, maternal illiteracy, incomplete immunization). The findings of this study confirm the association of severe acute malnutrition with appropriate infant and young child feeding practices. NRCS provide life-saving care for children.

AbstractAgricultural programme planners have commonly assumed that, to adopt new crops and inputs, small-scale farmers need financial loans, and that private land titles help them to borrow by providing a form of collateral for mortgages. The experience of the over 2 million Luo people and others in Kenya shows how inappropriate this theory can be in a tropical African context.With a land-holding system based on patriliny, the hosting of in-laws, and other principles, Luo tend to live among kin. They continue to justify land claims largely by labour, by the presence of ancestral graves, and by the group membership these represent. These patterns persist despite individual titling by the government since the 1950s. Financial institutions trying to foreclose on defaulters, and buyers trying then to move on to those lands, face stiff social a~hd political resistance, sometimes violent. The government land register obsolesces, and double-dealing proliferates. The mortgage system breaks down.Other problems in exogenous finance are legion. Credit means debt. It also means patronage, at international, national, or local levels. Neither public nor private financial institutions have overcome the great cultural, political, or pragmatic difficulties of lending to small farmers for staple food cropping or most other farm activities. These people have important debts and obligations of their own already, some quite subtle and some long-term. The promise of more loans, the most commonly cited justification for freehold tenure, proves largely illusory in western Kenya, as in many other rural parts of tropical Africa. Aid strategies based on saving and investment, and on non-financial intervention, hold more promise.RésuméCeux qui ont établi la planification agricole ont assumé de facon générate que, pour adopter les nouvelles cultures et ressources, les fermiers à petite échelle ont besoin de prêts financiers, et que le titre de propriétaire leur permet d'emprunter en constituant une sorte d'engagement pour une hypothéque. L'exemple du peuple Luo de plus de deux millions et des autres au Kenya, montre que cette théorie n'est pas due tout appropriee dans le contexte d'une Afrique tropicale.En raison d'un systeme foncier basé sue l'héritage père-fils, le recueillement des belles-families, et d'autres principes, les Luo ont tendance à vivre en communaute familiale. Us continuent à justifier leurs demandes de terres essentiellement par leur travail effectué, par la présence des tombes ancestrales, et par l'appartenance au groupe que celles-ci représentent. Ces modèles persistent, même depuis que le gouvemement a attribué des titres de propriété individuels à partir des années 1950. Les institutions financières qui tentent de saisir les débiteurs, et les acheteurs qui essaient de prendre possession de ces terres, se heurtent à une résistance ferme à la fois sociale et politique, et parfois même violente. Le registre des terres du gouvemement tombe en désuetude, et le procédé du double-jeu prolifère. Le système de l'emprunt s'effondre.Les autres problèmes en finance exogène sont multiples. Le credit est un signe de dette. II signifie aussi le patronage, aux niveaux international, national, ou local. Aucunes institutions financières publiques ou privées n'ont pu surmonter les grandes difficultés culturelles, politiques ou pragmatiques pour prêter à de petits fermiers pour la production alimentaire de base ou la plupart des autres activités de la ferme. Ces gens ont déjà leurs propres dettes de reconnaissance, à plus ou moins long terme. La promesse d'emprunts supplémentaires, ce qui est le plus regulièrement utilisé pour justifier la propriété fonciére libre, se revèle être fortement illusoire dans le Kenya de l'ouest, comme dans beaucoup d'autres régions de l'Afrique tropicale. Les stratégies d'aides basées sur l'épargne et l'investissement, ainsi que sur des interventions non financieres donnent plus d'espérances.

AbstractParticipatory research, particularly participatory plant breeding (PPB), can increase the relevance of public-sector research to the agricultural community. PPB has mostly been used in developing countries with resource-poor farmers, but there is increasing interest among farmers in developed countries who are dissatisfied with the performance of available varieties. In 2006, scientists associated with the winter and spring wheat breeding programs in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences and the Department of Community and Rural Sociology at Washington State University (WSU) conducted a survey of members of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers. Through analysis of the survey results, we sought to understand (1) whether or not farmers want to work with scientists in PPB programs and (2) the determinants of PPB interest. Results indicated that 52% of Washington wheat growers were interested in working with WSU scientists in a participatory breeding program. Interested farmers tended to be younger and college educated with fewer years of farming experience. Moreover, PPB interest appeared to be related positively to farm size, the number of wheat varieties planted, use of and interest in alternative production and marketing practices (e.g., seed saving, organic agriculture), and prior experience with WSU. Based on this analysis and ongoing discussions with farmers, we hope to develop a participatory wheat breeding program where farmers are able to choose their level of involvement with the breeding process based on their interest and needs. This new program will increase the relevance of WSU's wheat breeding programs to farmers in the state and could serve as a model for other public agricultural research programs seeking to increase farmer involvement and, thereby, democratize agricultural research.

Purpose Financial threat is defined as fearful-anxious uncertainty regarding one’s current and future financial situation. The purpose of this paper is to examine predictors and outcomes of financial threat in two samples of students who completed an online questionnaire for course credit. The theoretical model the authors proposed tested the association between personal debt, anxiety, and economic hardship with financial threat, and in turn, financial threat’s relationship with willingness to change financial behavior (e.g. increase income, cut expenses, and reduce debt), job search activity, and psychological distress. Consistent across samples, structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed that the data fit the model and supported all four hypotheses. Debt, economic hardship, and anxiety were all related positively to financial threat, which itself related positively to willingness to change, job search, and psychological distress. Importantly, financial threat mediated the relationship between these economic-situational predictors and affective-behavioral outcomes of financial stain. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed. Design/methodology/approach Using an online questionnaire, participants completed measures of economic hardship, intolerance of uncertainty, job search behavior, financial threat, life satisfaction, general health, perceived stress, and willingness to change to financial behavior. The authors developed and tested a model that explores emotional and cognitive reactions to financial stressors following the recession. Findings Results of SEM revealed that the data fit the model and no modification indices were suggested. Examination of parameter estimates indicated that total debt, economic hardship, and anxiety were positively related to financial threat. Financial threat, in turn, positively related to willingness to change one’s financial behaviors, job search, and psychological distress. In addition, economic hardship and anxiety were positively related to psychological distress. That is, individuals who were feeling more threatened by their financial situation were more willing to change their financial situation and were more likely to engage in job search behavior. They were also more likely to report more psychological distress than individuals reporting lower levels of financial threat. Research limitations/implications This study was cross-sectional and therefore precludes causal interpretations of the findings. Longitudinal data with repeated assessments of all measures would help determine the direction of causation. Also, the study relied on self-report data, which is prone to bias. For example, it is possible that some participants did not know their exact debt levels, which may have resulted in an under- or overestimation of debt levels. Future research should extend this line of research using objective measures. While the model tested in this study examined the impact of economic factors on perceived threat, behavior, and psychological distress, it did not include social and psychological resources. For example, the authors did not include measures of social support, coping, or personality, which may moderate the impact of economic variables and stress on psychological distress. Although financial knowledge/literacy was not studied here, future research could include it since it has been associated with a variety of financial behaviors such as cash-flow management, credit management, saving, and investing. There is some evidence that financial literacy can decrease emotional stress and anxiety (Vitt et al., 2000). Practical implications The current study can help researchers and practitioners understand the concept of financial threat among university students. For example, if students have incurred student loans and debt and begin displaying symptoms of distress, like anxiousness, worry, and irritability, they could be referred to a professional experienced in working with emotional and behavioral disorders related to financial issues. It can also help practitioners gain an understanding and insight into clients’ poor financial decision making. Government could initiate programs that help individuals cope with the negative effects of unemployment. Given that young people are experiencing disproportionately high unemployment that can have a lasting adverse effect on employment prospects and future earnings, the current post-secondary curriculum needs to prepare young people for the world of work, and gain a footing in the labor market. One way to achieve this is through high-quality work experiences (e.g. internships/apprenticeships). Identifying ways to mitigate the effects of debt and economic hardship is also imperative. For example, money and debt advice may improve one’s financial circumstances, which, in turn, may improve their physical and psychological well-being. Social implications Future studies could focus on developing models predicting to financial stress using personality, psychological resources, and an objective measure of financial knowledge. Despite these limitations, this research demonstrates how emotional factors need to be included in economic models that also include debt and economic hardship. The study contributes to the economic and psychological literature by documenting how economic hardship and debt influence perceptions of threat, planned behavior, and psychological distress. The authors take a unique approach to describing economic hardship and financial threat as antecedents of distress, job search, and willingness to change. Future research could be directed toward employing the model for predicting behavior that would lessen economic stress and thereby leading to increased psychological well-being. Originality/value The study develops and tests an original theoretical model linking financial, emotional, and psychological variable in a comprehensive framework that is then tested empirically. This model is original with this paper.

The achievement of family well - being is an aspiration of all families including families of migrant workers, to achieve the well - being of one of the ways that the families of migrant workers with the departure of the wife work as domestic servants in various countries. The purpose of this study was to analyze social capital, economic coping, sress symptom’s husband and family subjektive well - being of women migrant workers. This research use cross sectional studies. The location was chosen purposively in Tanggeung Village, Pagermaneuh Village, Margaluyu Village, Karangtengah Village, Tanggeung District and Pasirdalam Village Kadupandak District, Cianjur, West Java, Indonesia. Seventy five families were selected purposively among the families of women migrant workers. The finding indicates that social capital is in the moderate category, the coping economy is in the moderate category, the sress symptom’s husband is in the low category and the family well-being is in the low category. Finding in this study family subjective well-being is influenced by income per capita, sress symptom’s husband and economic coping.
 Keywords: economic coping, family subjective well-being, social capital, stress symptom
 
 Abstrak
 Kesejahteraan keluarga merupakan sesuatu yang ingin dicapai seluruh keluarga, termasuk keluarga Tenaga Kerja Wanita (TKW), untuk mencapai kesejahteraan tersebut salah satu cara yang dilakukan oleh keluarga TKW adalah mengirim istri sebagai pembantu rumah tangga di berbagai negara. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk menganalisis modal sosial, coping ekonomi, gejala stres suami, dan kesejahteraan subjektif keluarga TKW. Penelitian ini menggunakan cross sectional studies. Lokasi dipilih dengan metode purposive di Provinsi Jawa Barat, Kabupaten Cianjur, Kecamatan Tanggeung, Desa Pagermaneuh, Desa Marguluyu, Desa Karangtengah, Desa Tanggeung, Kecamatan Kadupandak, Desa Pasirdalam. Jumlah sampel sebanyak 75 keluarga TKW dengan metode purposive sampling. Penelitian ini menemukan modal sosial berada pada kategori sedang, coping ekonomi berada pada kategori sedang, gelaja stres suami berada pada kategori rendah, dan kesejahteraan subjektif berada pada kategori rendah. Penelitian ini juga menemukan kesejahteraan keluarga berpengaruh terhadap pendapatan perkapita, gelaja stres suami, dan coping ekonomi.
 Kata kunci : coping ekonomi, gejala stres, kesejahteraan subjektif, modal sosial.
 
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PurposeAgriculture in Ghana is dominated by smallholder farmers in rural areas. Majority of these farmers are resource-poor and faced with serious challenges in accessing formal financial services towards farming needs attributed to the stringent requirements. To bridge this gap, village savings and loan associations (VSLA) have been promoted in rural areas as an alternative to meeting the credit needs of smallholder farmers. Credit plays a vital role in input acquisition among farmers for improved agricultural value productivity. This study assesses the contribution of VSLA to agricultural value productivity in the Northern Region of Ghana.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology is a primary cross-sectional data collected with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire. This study, therefore, applied a propensity score matching (PSM) to assess the effects of VSLA on agricultural value productivity.FindingsResults from the PSM revealed that extension contact, contract farming, television set ownership, participating in “Planting for Food and Jobs” and nature of roads, including receiving VSLA information from members' increases participation decision of farmers in VSLA. Conversely, age of a farmer, household size, distance to output market and farmers in the Sagnarigu Municipality have negatively influenced VSLA participation. The propensity score matching estimates showed that members of VSLA obtained 38.2% higher agricultural value productivity than non-members.Originality/valueVillage savings and loans associations can be promoted among smallholder farmers as an effective alternative to formal financial service for inclusive development.

The public discourse on asylum seekers in the past year or so and the generation of hatred against them contains a strong linguistic element marking clear boundaries between 'ourselves' and the asylum seekers. I will discuss this linguistic dimension, which calls for vigilance and critical awareness in future discourses of exclusion. One of John Howard's political platforms in the victorious campaign, in which he replaced Paul Keating as Prime Minister was to liberate Australia of the 'political correctness' imposed by his opponents. In this respect, at least, he came close to the far right in Australian politics. For instance, he said of far right ex-Labor Independent Graeme Campbell: 'His attacks on political correctness echo many of the attacks I made on political correctness' (The Age, 18 June 1996). 'Political correctness' is a negative term for 'inclusive language' -- avoiding or being encouraged by stylistic or policy guidelines to avoid the choice of lexical items that may be offensive to sections of the population. The converse is the discourse of exclusion. Whether it excludes on the basis of ethnicity, religion, gender or any other basis, the discourse of exclusion creates a division between 'us' and 'them', partly on the basis of different lexical items for the two groups (Clyne, Establishing Linguistic Markers of Racism). Asylum seekers have been projected by politicians (especially those in the government) as not only different from the Australian people and therefore not belonging, but also as a threat to the Australian people. To demonstrate this projection it is worth considering some of the terms and formulations of exclusion and division that have been used. As Mungo MacCallum (41) argues, 'The first step was to get rid of the term 'refugee'; it has a long and honourable history and is generally used to describe people forced to flee from their homelands.' It might be more accurate to say that the government limited its use so that no honourable associations could be made with the current group of asylum seekers. There had been newspaper columns which had focused on the achievements and contributions to the nation of previous vintages of refugees; some communities consisted largely or entirely of refugees and their descendants, including some who had given longstanding support to the Liberal Party. The semantic narrowing of 'refugee' was illustrated in the Prime Minister's pronouncement (Herald-Sun, 8 Oct. 2001) when it was alleged that asylum seekers had thrown their children overboard: 'Genuine refugees don't do that'. Thus, refugee status in the public discourse was being related to their moral representation and not to any consideration of the threat of persecution in their homeland. While refugee status was officially a legal issue, when the Prime Minister interacted with the media and the voters, the asylum seekers were already excluded by guided popular opinion, for 'I don't want people like that in Australia'. The exclusionary line based on moral grounds was echoed by Alexander Downer (The Age, 8 Oct. 2001), who described the asylum seekers as lacking the civilized behaviour to be worthy to live in Australia: 'Any civilized person wouldn't dream of treating their own children that way'. So what could the asylum seekers be called? MacCallum (2002: 43) attributes to Philip Ruddock the verbal masterstroke' of reducing the identification of the asylum seekers to a 'one word label': 'unlawful'. However, this identification came in a number of facets. They were described on both sides of parliament as 'illegals', illegal arrivals', 'illegal immigrants' (e.g. Hansard, 29 Aug. 2001). All of these terms encourage the view of intrusion. In actual fact, whether people's arrival had been authorized by the government or not, there is no such thing as an 'illegal refugee'. Other descriptions ranged from 'occasional tourists' (Gary Hardgrave, Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs; House of Representatives, 30 Aug. 2001) '; to 'café latte poor' (Senator Robert Ray, former Labor Minister for Immigration), which assumes that only the poor can be refugees. Such descriptions suggested that the asylum seekers were dishonest imposters. But the term 'illegals' lowers asylum seekers to the status of 'non-people' and this gives others the licence to treat them in a way that may be different to those who are 'people'. This is reinforced by the fact that the asylum seekers are neither nice nor poor, and therefore cannot expect to attract support from the government (and, to a large extent from the opposition). The 'bully' image of the asylum seekers was propagated by comments on the behaviour of those allegedly harming their children, described by Ruddock as 'carefully planned and premeditated' (The Age, 14 Feb. 2002). It was reinforced by Peter Reith, who described the action as a 'premeditated attempt to force their way into the country' (The Age, 8 Aug. 2001). When Kim Beazley said: 'It is not unhumanitarian (sic) to try to deter criminals' (The Age, 8 Nov. 2001), he left it to our imagination or choice whether, in supporting the government's position, he wanted to defend us from the asylum seekers or from the 'people smugglers' of whom they are victims. However he put the asylum seekers directly or by association into the criminal category. The suggestion that the asylum seekers might be economic migrants masquerading as refugees enabled the government to differentiate them from 'battlers', who are likely to support action against any 'crooks' who will take the little the battlers have away from them. So far asylum seekers as 'bad cruel people' have been differentiated from 'genuine refugees' of the past, from a nation of 'civilized', gentle, child-loving people, and from Aussie 'battlers'. 'Queue-jumper' is a term that differentiates asylum seekers from both the 'mainstream' and the succession of migrants who have come at various times. This term occurs in several debates (used e.g. by Senator Ron Boswell and Kay Ellison, 29 Aug. 2001). Firstly, it invokes the twin cultural concepts of fairness and orderliness. The 'destruction' of 'political correctness' and especially Pauline Hanson's expressed views regenerated the notion that the needy were unfairly getting something for nothing that others had to work for. This included Aborigines, recently arrived migrants or refugees, single mothers, and even the disabled. The fact that there were no queues in Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, or the Palestinian Territories in which people could stand to fill in immigration applications was not taken into account. Queuing is very much an Anglo concept of orderliness, reflecting the strong linear emphasis in British-derived cultures, even in academic discourse and school essays and in formal meetings as I have discussed elsewhere (e.g. Clyne, Inter-cultural Communication at Work). In another sense, the 'queue jumper' is a repugnant person to migrants of all backgrounds. The impression is gained from the designation that asylum seekers are taking the place in a tight quota of their relatives (or people like them) waiting to be admitted under the family reunion scheme. In actual fact, the number of asylum seekers recognized as refugees does not affect other categories such as family reunion, and in fact, the quota for the humanitarian category wasn't nearly filled in 2001. The government's handling of asylum seekers is thus underpinned by two types of moral principles -- the schoolmaster principle -- They have to behave themselves, otherwise they will be punished, and the schoolchild principle (based on the perception)-- It ain't fair; he pushed in. Another term that has played an important role in the asylum seeker discourse is 'border protection'. This term featured prominently in the 2001 election campaign, when both major parties vied to persuade voters that they were best equipped to protect Australia. It lives on in the public discourse and relates both to contemporary international politics and to traditional Australian xenophobia. The 2001 federal election was fought in the context of the terrorist attacks on the twin towers and the American-led coalition against international terrorism. Thus, the term 'border protection' was necessarily ambiguous. Was it terrorists or asylum seekers who were being kept out? Or were they perhaps the same people? Even though many of the asylum seekers were claiming to be escaping from persecution by the terrorists or those who were harbouring them. Maybe the linking association is with Islam? It is possible that 'border protection' (like the Liberal Party's 1998 election slogan 'For all of us') is also ambiguous enough to attract opponents of multiculturalism without alienating its supporters.2 Boat-loads of new arrivals have long caused fear among Australians. For much of Australia's British history, we were terrified of invasions from our north -- not just the 'yellow peril', it even included the Russians and the French, from whom Australians were protected by fortresses along the coast. This was immortalized in the final verse of the politically incorrect early version of Advance Australia Fair: Should foreign foe e'er sight our coast Or dare a foot to land, We'll rouse to arms like siers of yore To guard our native strand; Brittania then shall surely know, Beyond wide oceans roll Her sons in fair Australia's land Still keep a British soul, In joyful strains, etc. In fact, the entire original version of Advance Australia Fair has a predominantly exclusionist theme which contrasts with the inclusive values embodied in the present national anthem. While our 'politically correct' version has 'boundless plains to share' with 'those who've come across the seas', they are only open to 'loyal sons' in the original, which is steeped in colonial jingoism. The gender-inclusive 'Australians all' replaces 'Australia's sons' as the opening appellation. Are our politicians leading us back from an inclusive and open identity? I do not have space to go into the opposing discourse, which has come largely from academic social scientists, former prime ministers, and ministers of both major parties, current politicians of the minor parties, and journalists from the broadsheet press and the ABC. Objections are often raised against the 'demonisation' and 'dehumanisation' of the asylum seekers. In this short article, I have tried to demonstrate the techniques used to do this. The use of 'illegal' and 'queue jumper' to represent asylum seekers differentiates them from 'refugees' and 'migrants' and has removed them from any category with whom existing Australians should show solidarity. What makes them different is that they are cruel, even to their children, dishonest and imposters, badly behaved, unfair and disorderly – enemies of the Australian people, who want to deprive them of their sovereignty. It is interesting to see this in contrast to the comment of a spokesperson from Rural Australians for Refugees (AM, Radio National, 26 Jan. 2002): 'We can't recognise our country anymore which was based on fairness and fair go'. Notes This is based on 'When the discourse of hatred becomes respectable – does the linguist have a responsibility?', a paper presented at the Australian Linguistic Society conference at Macquarie University, July 2001. Some of the same data was discussed in 'The discourse excluding asylum seekers – have we been brainwashed?' Australian Language Matters 10: 3-10, by the same author. Research assistance from Felicity Grey is gratefully acknowledged. 2 I thank Felicity Meakins for this suggestion. References Clyne, Michael. Inter-Cultural Communication at Work. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994. Clyne, Michael. 'Establishing Linguistic Markers of Racism.' Language and Peace. Ed. C. Schäffner and A.Wenden. Dartmouth: Aldershot, 1995. 111-18. MacCallum, Mungo. Girt by Sea (Quarterly Essay). Melbourne: Black, 2002. Markus, Andrew. 'John Howard and the Naturalization of Bigotry.' The Resurgence of Racism. Ed. G.Gray and C.Winter. Clayton: Monash University, Department of History (Monash Publications in History 24), 1997. 79-86. Citation reference for this article Substitute your date of access for Dn Month Year etc... MLA Style Clyne, Michael. "Saving Us From Them" M/C: A Journal of Media and Culture 5.5 (2002). [your date of access] < http://www.media-culture.org.au/mc/0210/Clyne.html &gt. Chicago Style Clyne, Michael, "Saving Us From Them" M/C: A Journal of Media and Culture 5, no. 5 (2002), < http://www.media-culture.org.au/mc/0210/Clyne.html &gt ([your date of access]). APA Style Clyne, Michael. (2002) Saving Us From Them. M/C: A Journal of Media and Culture 5(5). < http://www.media-culture.org.au/mc/0210/Clyne.html &gt ([your date of access]).

The purpose of this study was to explore and discuss the impact of village savings and loan associations (VSLAs) on socio-economic changes among women and resilience against vulnerability. The study employed a descriptive research design, and household-survey methods were used to obtain data from two districts: Chiradzulu Tradition Authority Maoni and Blantyre Rural Traditional Authority Kapeni. The multi-stage sampling method was used to select the samples. The sample size was 70 ( n = 70) women from VSLA groups, and the data obtained were analysed using ‘Statistical Package for the Social Sciences’ (SPSS). The findings of the study show the positive contributions of VSLAs towards women, such as an increase in the economic and social level of members. Despite these positive results, it was found that VSLA members have no access to loans from external organisations or banks, and there is also a lack of training among the VSLA members.

Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs), have the aim of reducing poverty and creating assets to rural dwellers who have limited access to formal finance due to high collateral requirements. However, since the implementation of VSLAs in the Garu and Tempane districts for over a decade, there is inadequate evidence as to the impact of VSLAs on the lives of the participants. Not only that, there is the need to find out the current and anticipated challenges faced by the participants in the program. This study analyzed the effect of VSLAs on the income of households in Garu and Tempane districts. Data was collected from 100 respondents, 50 direct beneficiaries and 50 non beneficiaries from 3 and 2 communities in Garu and Tempane districts respectively. A Heckman treatment effect model was used to analyze the determinants of participation and the effect of participation on income. The results showed that participants of the VSLA program had an annual income of about GH₵ 2016.60 more than the non-participants. Decision to join VSLAs is mainly influenced by age, the years a respondent spends in the community, the number of active labor force in a household and whether a respondent is a native or migrant. However, based on the challenges identified, it is recommended that the government and other institutions interested in rural development should institute appropriate policies that will help enhance participation in the program. Also, the associations should enforce tougher sanctions on members who absent themselves from meetings without prior notice.

The Indian Self-Help Group (SHG) movement has been working in the exact direction in recent years to empower women and eradicate poverty in rural and urban areas. Women in India have a strong confidence in the campaign and are responsible for improving their livelihoods. The present study is to evaluate the quality of SHGs chosen for the investigation from the district of Kanchipuram and the district of Chennai. The study's broad goal is to analyze the SHGs operating system for saving mobilization, credit delivery to the needy, repayment of loans, and building SGH members ' opinion on increased decision-making power. All primary and secondary data are obtained and demographic information analyzes age, family structure, and number of dependents in the household. The study emphasizes the role of SHGs for their integration in empowering women, social cohesion, and socio-economic improvement of the poor.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects one in three women around the world and is the tenth leading cause of death for women in Africa aged 15 to 29 years. Partner alcohol use, access to social support, and poverty all affect women’s likelihood of experiencing violence. We sought to understand how partner alcohol use differentially affected the hypothesized association between a protective role of instrumental social support (in the form of food or financial loans) against IPV for a clinic-based sample of women in the Kingdom of Eswatini (formerly known as Swaziland). We use cross-sectional data from a parent study of women recruited from urban and rural antenatal clinics in Eswatini ( n = 393) to calculate the association between experiencing IPV and perception of one’s ability access to large cash loans, small cash loans, and food loans—both for the full sample and stratified by partner alcohol use. In fully adjusted models, the perception that one could access loans of food or money was associated with decreased relative risk of IPV for all women. These associations were modified by partner alcohol use. Access to instrumental support (loans of food or money) is associated with decreased risk of IPV, but this association varies according to the type of loan and whether or not a woman’s partner drinks alcohol. Economic empowerment interventions to reduce IPV must be carefully tailored to ensure they are appropriate for a woman’s specific individual, relationship, and community context.