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Microfinance and Women Entrepreneurship: An Extant Literature Review


Affiliations
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Accounting, College of Business Administration, Jazan University, Saudi Arabia
2 Lecturer, Department of Business Studies, University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Sultanate of Oman, Oman
3 Professor, Department of Commerce, University of Kashmir, Jammu & Kashmir, India
     

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The paper aims to explore the connection between microfinance and women entrepreneurship. This paper is based on existing empirical as well as theoretical literature across different contexts. Existing literature supports, microfinance enables disadvantaged section of women to start own micro-enterprises as well as expand already established micro-enterprises. Further, women have been able to generate employment in their micro-enterprises mainly in their localities. However, initial loans are generally diverted towards non-productive uses. These initial loans are seldom used for productive purposes, in some context, due to certain challenges such as small size of loans, frequency in loan repayment, lack of training and knowledge, marketing problems faced by women beneficiaries. It was found that women beneficiaries, however, are able to utilize their subsequent loans for productive purposes i.e. start or grow their microenterprises. The challenges which women confront in starting their own business ventures must be identified and addressed promptly. Further, there is a void in the empirical literature regarding impact estimation of microfinance on women entrepreneurship to be filled.

Keywords

Microfinance, Entrepreneurship, Micro- Enterprises, Poverty
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  • Microfinance and Women Entrepreneurship: An Extant Literature Review

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Authors

Shagufta Tariq
Assistant Professor, Department of Accounting, College of Business Administration, Jazan University, Saudi Arabia
Mohd Abass Bhat
Lecturer, Department of Business Studies, University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Sultanate of Oman, Oman
Mohi-Ud-Din Sangmi
Professor, Department of Commerce, University of Kashmir, Jammu & Kashmir, India

Abstract


The paper aims to explore the connection between microfinance and women entrepreneurship. This paper is based on existing empirical as well as theoretical literature across different contexts. Existing literature supports, microfinance enables disadvantaged section of women to start own micro-enterprises as well as expand already established micro-enterprises. Further, women have been able to generate employment in their micro-enterprises mainly in their localities. However, initial loans are generally diverted towards non-productive uses. These initial loans are seldom used for productive purposes, in some context, due to certain challenges such as small size of loans, frequency in loan repayment, lack of training and knowledge, marketing problems faced by women beneficiaries. It was found that women beneficiaries, however, are able to utilize their subsequent loans for productive purposes i.e. start or grow their microenterprises. The challenges which women confront in starting their own business ventures must be identified and addressed promptly. Further, there is a void in the empirical literature regarding impact estimation of microfinance on women entrepreneurship to be filled.

Keywords


Microfinance, Entrepreneurship, Micro- Enterprises, Poverty

References