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

Samuel Salia (Department of Finance, Accounting, Information and Economics, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, UK)
Javed Hussain (Birmingham City University, Birmingham, UK)
Ishmael Tingbani (Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics, Bournemouth University Business School, Bournemouth, UK)
Oluwaseun Kolade (University of Wolverhampton Business School, Wolverhampton, UK)

International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research

ISSN: 1355-2554

Publication date: 8 January 2018

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.

Keywords

  • Microfinance
  • Ghana
  • Unintended consequences
  • Women empowerment

Citation

Salia, S., Hussain, J., Tingbani, I. and Kolade, O. (2018), "Is women empowerment a zero sum game? Unintended consequences of microfinance for women’s empowerment in Ghana", International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, Vol. 24 No. 1, pp. 273-289. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-04-2017-0114

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

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