2010-08-14 papers

on Microfinance

Issue of 2010‒08‒14
two papers chosen by
Aastha Pudasainee and Olivier Dagnelie

Creating Value Beyond Microfinance Through Entrepreneurship Development in Kenya By Matu, Jeffrey Ben; Kimani, Thomas
Community based health insurance schemes in Africa: The case of Rwanda By Shimeles, Abebe

Creating Value Beyond Microfinance Through Entrepreneurship Development in Kenya

By:	Matu, Jeffrey Ben; Kimani, Thomas
Abstract:	This article looks at current microfinance practices in Kenya and some of the inherent challenges that hinder human development of microfinance clients beyond accessing financial services. As microfinance providers and supporters continue to promote the importance of improving access to financial services amongst micro and small business owners, they will need to augment their microfinance services with basic entrepreneurial training.
Keywords:	Entrepreneurship; Development; Microfinance; Microenterprise; Kenya
JEL:	M13
Date:	2010–08–02
URL:	http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:24211&r=mfd

Community based health insurance schemes in Africa: The case of Rwanda

By:	Shimeles, Abebe (Development Research Department African Development Bank)
Abstract:	Community-based health insurance schemes (Mutuelles) in Rwanda are one of the largest experiments in community based risk-sharing mechanisms in Sub-Saharan Africa for health related problems. This study examines the impact of the program on demand for modern health care, mitigation of out-of-pocket catastrophic health expenditure and social inclusiveness based on a nationally representative household survey using traditional regression approach and matching estimator popular in the evaluation literature. Our findings suggest that Mutuelles have been successful in increasing utilization of modern health care services and reducing catastrophic health related expenditure. According to our preferred method, higher utilization of health care services was found among the insured non-poor than insured poor households, with comparable effect in reducing health-related expenditure shocks. This reinforces the inequity already inherent in the Mutuelles system.<p>
Keywords:	demand for health services; catastrophic health expenditure; average treatment effects; endogenous dummy variable; matching estimator
JEL:	I10
Date:	2010–08–06
URL:	http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:gunwpe:0463&r=mfd

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