Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Author-Name: Cristina Elisa Orso
Author-X-Name-First: Cristina Elisa
Author-X-Name-Last: Orso
Author-Email: cristina.orso@unive.it
Author-Workplace-Name: Dipartimento di Economia, Universitą  Ca' Foscari
Author-Name: Enrico Fabrizi
Author-X-Name-First: Enrico
Author-X-Name-Last: Fabrizi
Author-Email: enrico.fabrizi@unicatt.it
Author-Workplace-Name: DISCE, Universitą  Cattolica
Title: Microcredit and women's empowerment in Bangladesh: a structural equation 
model for categorical observed variables
Abstract: This paper employs the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (2004) to 
explore the relationship between participation in microcredit programs and 
women's empowerment using a structural equation model with categorical observed 
variables. A MCMC-based Bayesian approach is adopted for estimation. Along with 
participation in microcredit, we consider  a variety of socio-cultural aspects 
as potential predictors of empowerment in the Bangladeshi context including 
men's perceptions about women's status. We conclude that  gender community norms 
are strongly rooted in women's minds  regardless of the partners' perceptions of 
women's status, and microcredit interventions may actually contribute to change 
gender beliefs and social attitudes.
Length: 30
Creation-Date: 2013-10
Publication-Status: 
File-URL: http://www.unicatt.it/dipartimenti/DISES/allegati/dises1396.pdf
File-Format: Application/pdf
File-Function: First version, aaaa
Number: dises1396
Classification-JEL:J10, O15, O19.
Keywords: Microcredit programs, Women's empowerment, Gender relations, Asia, 
Bangladesh, Bayesian approach.
Handle: RePEc:ctc:serie2:dises1396