Is women empowerment a zero sum game? Unintended consequences of microfinance for women’s empowerment in Ghana

Salia, Samuel and Hussain, Javed G. and Tingbani, Ishmael and Kolade, Oluwaseun (2018) Is women empowerment a zero sum game? Unintended consequences of microfinance for women’s empowerment in Ghana. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, 24 (1). pp. 273-289. ISSN 1355-2554

Preview	Text (Main Paper) Accepted paper for publication - final copy.pdf - Accepted Version Download (528kB)
Preview	Text (Table Attachment) Revised_Table for the paper.pdf - Accepted Version Download (829kB)

Abstract

Purpose
Against the background of growing concerns that development interventions can sometimes be a zero sum game, the purpose of this paper is to examine the unintended consequences of microfinance for women empowerment in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach
The study employs a participatory mixed-method approach including household questionnaire surveys, focus group discussions and key informant interviews to investigate the dynamics of microfinance effects on women in communities of different vulnerability status in Ghana.

Findings
The results of hierarchical regression, triadic closure and thematic analyses demonstrate that the economic benefits of microfinance for women is also directly associated with conflicts amongst spouses, girl child labour, polygyny and the neglect of perceived female domestic responsibilities due to women’s devotion to their enterprises.

Originality/value
In the light of limited empirical evidence on potentially negative impacts of women empowerment interventions in Africa, this paper fills a critical gap in knowledge that will enable NGOs, policy makers and other stakeholders to design and implement more effective interventions that mitigate undesirable consequences.

Item Type:	Article
Identification Number:	10.1108/IJEBR-04-2017-0114
Dates:	Date Event 23 August 2017 Accepted 8 January 2018 Published
Uncontrolled Keywords:	microfinance, Ghana, unintended consequences, women empowerment
Subjects:	CAH17 - business and management > CAH17-01 - business and management > CAH17-01-07 - finance CAH17 - business and management > CAH17-01 - business and management > CAH17-01-08 - accounting
Divisions:	Faculty of Business, Law and Social Sciences > College of Accountancy, Finance and Economics Faculty of Business, Law and Social Sciences > College of Business, Digital Transformation & Entrepreneurship
Depositing User:	Users 18 not found.
Date Deposited:	21 Nov 2017 11:54
Last Modified:	20 Jun 2024 12:06
URI:	https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/5325

Actions (login required)

View Item