Children Development Accounts in Africa: A Pilot Study

Children Development Accounts in Africa: A Pilot Stud

Women and Development in Sub-Saharan Africa: Problems and Prospects for Heifer Projects

Women and Development in Sub-Saharan Africa: Problems and Prospects for Heifer Project

Uganda Country Assessment for Youth Development Accounts

Uganda Country Assessment for Youth Development Account

Increasing Life Chances for Orphaned Children in Africa: Testing an Asset-Based Development Strategy

Increasing Life Chances for Orphaned Children in Africa: Testing an Asset-Based Development Strateg

Saving for Microenterprise in Individual Development Accounts: Lessons From the American Dream Demonstration

Saving for Microenterprise in Individual Development Accounts: Lessons From the American Dream Demonstratio

Integrating Savings Into Microenterprise Programs for the Poor: Do Institutions Matter?

Numerous theoretical frameworks have been used to explain factors that influence outcomes of poor families engaged in self-employment. Theories related to human capital, social capital, andfinancial assets have guided most studies. Using data from fourteen institutions promoting self-employment among the poor, and drawing on the institutional theory, this study finds that theories related to individual influences do not adequately explain all the phenomenon.Controlling for a wide range of individual characteristics, there is a statistically significant association between institutional influences and participants’ outcomes. Policy makers shouldconsider a range of institutional characteristics when designing policies and programs aimed atpromoting self-employment among poor families

The Role of Informal Social Networks in Micro-Savings Mobilization

The influence of informal institutions on economic outcomes for low income individuals and households has received little attention in the United States. Yet, drawing on social capital theory and existing studies from developing countries where informal institutions have been widely used in promoting economic opportunities offamilies in poverty, one would expect these institutions to have positive effects on the economic outcomes of low income individuals in the context of an IDA program. Using a sample of 840 respondents who were enrolled in a community action program, this study assesses the effects of informal networks of social support on performance in a matched savings program. Results show partial support for the hypothesized relationship. Specifically, an increase in the amount of help a respondent gives to members of her community is inversely related to performance in an IDA program. This may imply that although informal networks have mutual benefits for both the individual and community, economically these benefits may be mixed. Among low income individuals saving in an IDA program, participating in such networks may constrain the economic resources available to them or their households; hence impacting their performance negatively

Institutions and Savings in Low-Income Households

This paper examines the influence of structured savings program arrangements on the saving performance of low-income households in individual development accounts (IDAs). Data are drawn from the American Dream Demonstration (1997-2004), which looked at the saving performance of low-income households in matched savings accounts across the United States. Hierarchical multivariate regression is used to identify which specific structural program arrangements are important in influencing the saving performance of low-income families. Findings suggest that overall, structured program arrangements, including financial education, peer mentoring groups and saving targets are important in influencing people\u27s saving performance-including low-income families

Institutions and Savings in Low-Income Households

Institutions and Savings in Low-Income Household

Contractual Children Savings Accounts in Low Resource Communities: Who Saves?

This study examines variation in saving behavior of poor families enrolled in a children savings accounts program for orphaned and vulnerable school-going children in Uganda. We employ multilevel analyses using longitudinal data from a cluster-randomized experimental design. Our analyses locate the following significant results: (1) financial institutions' characteristics affect average monthly savings and deposit frequency; (2) reported high levels of family cohesion are associated with higher deposit frequency; (3) children in the care of female guardians report higher average monthly saving and deposit frequency. The study has the following key implications: institutions and family relations matter in children savings mobilization