Flavius, Talia Esnard and Aziz, Zainab
(2011)
Microcredit, Microenterprises And Social
Welfare Of The Rural Poor In North-Eastern
Trinidad: An Evaluation Of "Hope".
Asian Academy of Management Journal (AAMJ), 16 (1).
pp. 1-24.
ISSN 1394-2603
Abstract
The study examined the relationship between microcredit, microenterprises, and the
social welfare of the rural poor in north-eastern Trinidad. Guided by the main
propositions of social capital theory, the researchers held 45 semi-structured interviews
with active participants/clients within a case study research design. The data showed that
access to microcredit through Helping Others Prosper Economically (HOPE) positively
affected their microenterprises and social welfare, though marginally. Findings also
revealed that fragmented social relations within the network, conflict, distrust, and the
loose structure of the program limited the impact of their access to microcredit on social
welfare as well as the financial potential of the lending organisation, that is, HOPE. It is
the contention of this paper, therefore, that such questionable social relations dynamics
'hijack' the promise of collective social networks as exercised through goodwill and
resource building. Implications of this study and directions for future research are
discussed.
Actions (login required)
|
View Item |