The Effect of Promoting Savings on Informal Risk Sharing: Experimental Evidence from Vulnerable Women in Kenya

A-Tier
Journal: Journal of Human Resources
Year: 2020
Volume: 55
Issue: 3

Authors (3)

Felipe Dizon (not in RePEc) Erick Gong (not in RePEc) Kelly Jones (American University)

Score contribution per author:

1.341 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

An increase in savings can lead to substitution away from informal risk-sharing arrangements (IRSAs), which can reduce the capacity to manage risk. We conduct a field experiment that promoted mobile bank savings among vulnerable women in Kenya. The savings promotion increased mobile bank savings and reduced risk sharing. However, we show that reduced risk sharing did not reduce the capacity to manage risk. Promoting savings directly improved the ability of women to cope with negative shocks and had no adverse spillover effects on the untreated.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:uwp:jhriss:v:55:y:2020:i:3:p:963-998
Journal Field
Labor
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-25