women. Here, using a randomized controlled trial, we examine whether access to an individually-held commitment savings … development goals. Microfinance in particular has often been argued, but not without controversy, to be a tool for empowering …

Evidence on the effectiveness of financial education and formal savings account access is lacking, particularly for … shows the education plus account treatment increases bank savings relative to account-only. But survey-measured total … savings shows roughly equal increases across all treatment arms. Earned income also increases in all treatment arms. We find …

We examine how participation in a microfinance program diffuses through social networks. We collected detailed … demographic and social network data in 43 villages in South India before microfinance was introduced in those villages and then … first informed about the program, "the injection points". Microfinance participation is higher when the injection points …

We investigate the puzzle of microfinance: that loans generate large measured returns for businesses, yet loan take …-up is low and the businesses often close. We analyze a randomized trial that bundled microfinance loans with a cheap health … business losses, rather than pay modest insurance premiums, implies the substantial financial gains from microfinance loans are …

higher repayment and higher savings. Furthermore, I observe direct evidence that relationships deteriorate after default, and …

High transaction and contracting costs are often thought to create credit and savings market failures in developing … countries. The microfinance movement grew largely out of business process innovations and subsidies that reduced these costs. We … improved “technology” for managing informal, collaborative village-based savings groups. Such groups allow, in theory, for more …

, weaker restrictions may be a more effective means of changing behavior. We test this using a school-based commitment savings … which savings are available for cash withdrawal but intended for educational expenses. The weaker commitment generates …Commitment devices offer an opportunity to restrict future choices. However, if severe restrictions deter participation …