Do Self-Help Groups Work on Achieving Economic Goals? New Evidence from a Field Experiment in Medellin, Colombia

<p>Abstract: This research is the first study to introduce an experimental setting to test the implication of a poverty alleviation model inspired by the Family Independence Initiative (FII) in a developing country. The FII is a poverty alleviation approach that has shown remarkable results in improving the living conditions of low-income individuals in three cities of the United States. It promotes self-improvement through setting goals, incentive schemes, and self-help groups (SHGs). The results suggest that the FII model can be successfully implemented as a poverty alleviation policy in a developing country. The model does have a positive and significant effect on debt reduction, savings, as well as business performance. The most effective components of the model are the goal and incentive treatments; meanwhile, SHGs present a negative effect on goal achievement, a poor effect on business outcomes, but a positive and significant effect on social ties.</p>

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Economics

Year dc:date.available

2013

Author dc:creator

• Aguinaga Lezcano, Paulina

Contributors dc:contributor

• Alessandra Cassar

• Family Independence Initiative
• goal
• prize and self-help groups.
• Behavioral Economics

Repository record dc:identifier

https://repository.usfca.edu/thes/65

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.usfca.edu:thes-1072