Self-help groups (SHGs) are the most common form of microfinance in India. We provide evidence that SHGs, composed of …

mixed. We examine financial "self-help" groups in one of the poorest districts in India, using a unique combination of a … are stronger where self-help groups were present. We find little evidence that membership leads to a convergence of tastes … among group members. These results suggest that, in contrast to traditional community initiatives, self-help groups can …