Micro Credit and Rural Women Entrepreneurship Development in Bangladesh: A Multivariate Model

Abstract

Micro credit programs have positive socioeconomic impact on rural women borrowers of Bangladesh. But it is also opined by the different corners that the micro credit programs do not help the borrowers to develop entrepreneurial capabilities except surviving. Thus, this paper aims at identifying the factors related to the development of entrepreneurship among the rural women through micro credit programs of the micro credit providers. A multivariate analysis technique such as, Factor Analysis was conducted to identify the factors related to entrepreneurship development. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to identify the relationship between micro credit program and the development of rural women entrepreneurship in Bangladesh. Results show that the financial management skills are the most important factor that has significant relationship with the development of rural women entrepreneurship. Results also show that the group identities of the women borrowers have significant relationship with the rural entrepreneurship development in Bangladesh. Borrowers experience from the parents’ families and the limitation of option also lead to the development of entrepreneurship among the rural women borrowers of Bangladesh.