Microcredit, Financial Inclusion and Women Empowerment Nexus in Bangladesh

Abstract

This paper examined the role of microcredit in women empowerment though financial inclusion. A survey was conducted among the low profile unprivileged rural women living in southwestern part of Bangladesh. Data were collected on the usage and effectiveness of microcredit and analyzed using STATA 11. Multiple regression and descriptive statistics were used to interpret data. The study found that microcredit promoted financial inclusion and played significant role in empowering low profile rural women in terms of income generation, saving mobilization, creation of household assets and overall poverty reduction. Thus, microcredit can be a useful tool for women empowerment and potent tool for economic development.