The Grameen Philosophy

Research Paper # 95968

Asian Studies > East Asian Cultures
Economics
Economics > Macro

A discussion of the philosophy of the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh and its way of fighting poverty.

3,748 words () | 19 sources | APA | 2007 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the Grameen philosophy of the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh and the way in which it has developed one way of fighting poverty for the women and children in the country. The paper briefly discusses the multi-layered ramifications of this unique approach in Bangladesh. It argues that due to cultural restrictions in Bangladesh the only way to raise the standard of living of women is through the process of microcredit empowerment.

Table of Contents:
What Is Microfinancing?
What Is Empowerment?
Cultural Restrictions That Women Face
The Grameen Bank And Women
Group Lending
Opponents To Group Lending
Social Development
Grameen's Success In Poverty Reduction
Analysis And Concluding Thoughts

From the Paper:

"Preliminary evidence suggests that there have been significant benefits to both women and children through the process of empowering their economic mobility. Analysis from Barbara Haley, in a study done by the Canadian International Development Agency in 2001, suggests that 58% of women clients at Grameen had in fact crossed the extreme poverty line, compared to 18% of non-members. Crossing the poverty line is defined as "annual income sufficient to provide each family member with a daily intake of 1,800 calories."35 Of the remaining 42% of clients who failed to cross the poverty line, 60% had experienced a serious illness in the family. Grameen loans prevented these families from coalescing into worse economic conditions, however they were not sufficient enough to cross the extreme poverty line.36"

Sample of Sources Used:

Abedin Najmul, Grameen Approach To Development in Bangladesh: An Overview. Contemporary South Asia. July 1996, Volume 5, Issue 2
Abu Wahid, The Grameen Bank and Women in Bangladesh. Challege.Sept/Oct 99, Vol.42, Issue 5
Adbullah, S.A Zeidenstein. Village Women in Bangladesh: Prospects for Change. Women in Change Development Series. Pergamon Press.Volume 4, (1982).
Alexandra Bernasek, The Grameen Bank As Progressive Institutional Adjustment. Journal of Economic Issues. June 1997, Volume. 31, Issue
Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), Fighting Human Poverty: Bangladesh Human Development Report 2000. 2000, p.3. This article was accessed online: November 2003. www.sdnbd.org/sdi/issues/sustainable_development.htm