Download - Strength of Weak Ties in Microfinance
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PhD Research Sponsored by the Leverhulme TrustCornell Jackson
Strength of Weak Ties in Microfinance
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BackgroundPart of Leverhulme Research Project
looking at microfinance & social networksPhD Research focused on the networks of
microfinance clientsResearch hosted by Bullock Cart Workers
Development Association (BWDA) located in Tamil Nadu, India
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Social Network Analysis DefinitionSocial networks are defined and measured
as connections among people, organisations, political entities (states and nations) and/or other units.
Social networks are so important is because human beings are ultra-social animals that create social networks (Haidt, 2006)
Social network analysis is a theoretical perspective and a set of techniques used to understand these relationships (Valente 2010).
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Social Network Analysis DefinitionSocial Network Analysis Definition
(Freeman, 2004)Social network analysis is motivated by a
structural intuition based on ties linking social actors,
It is grounded in systematic empirical data,It draws heavily on graphic imagery, andIt relies on the use of mathematical and/or
computational models
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Social Network Analysis ConceptsSmall World NetworksScale Free NetworksNetwork Dynamics (individual, network)Social CapitalHomophilyDiffusion/ContagionCentralityEfficient Network FormsInterventions
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Reach of Connection and InfluenceChristakis and Fowler (2010) propose the
following:Connection – Six degrees of separation
(Travers & Milgram (1969), Dodds, Muhamad and Watts(2003))
Influence – Three degrees of separationIntrinsic Decay Explanation Network Instability Explanation Evolutionary Purpose Explanation
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Visualisations – Who Does the Most Work?
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Visualisation – Who Does the Most Work?
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Theoretical BackgroundStrength of Weak Ties (Granovetter, 1973)Reliance of the poor on strong ties
(Granovetter, 1983)Structural Holes (Burt, 1992)Brokerage & Closure (Burt, 2005)Spillover (Burt, 2010)Social Intermediation (Edgcomb & Barton,
1998)Inclusive Value Chains (Harper, 2010)Power Distance Index (Hofstede, 1984)
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Research QuestionsHow does a MFI help its clients bridge
structural holes?How can MFIs socially intermediate to help
clients establish weak bridging ties?
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MethodologyPopulation – 111 Sari Sellers MFI Clients in Tamil
Nadu Links to:
SuppliersFinancial SourcesCustomersMarket Information
Reverse Small World Method – Who would you talk to first?More customersMake your business betterTo find info on upcoming weddings and festivalsKanchipuram Silk Question
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Methodology – Cont’dSocial Intermediation – Non-Financial AidJatiFinancials Progress Out of Poverty Index (PPI)
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ResultsLarge reliance on strong tiesThe internal network of BWDA, like most
Indian organisations, has most links to and from the centre
Very few ties that cross the links to and from the centre
While only 5% of the population, animators (SHG leaders) are 55% of the sari sellers interviewed.
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Results – Cont’dDefinition of Strong Ties (Trust):
Finance – Non-collateral loansSupplier – Credit providedRelationships – Family, Friends, Neighbours
or Long-termCustomers – Relationship > 1 year
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Methodology – Cont’dKanchipuram Silk Sari Question
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Visualisation – Target Method
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Preliminary InterpretationsPoor depend mainly on strong ties. Mainly due to
insecurity (Granovetter, 1983)Indian hierarchical cultural ecosystems encourages
“command and control” network structures Sari sellers’ networks are fragile and easy to
fragmentContext is important. These sari sellers do not
recognise and take advantage of brokerage opportunitiesSouth Railway ColonyKanchipuram Silk Sari Question
Animators get the most training from BWDA.
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Network Fragmentation I
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Network Fragmentation II
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Network Fragmentation III
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Network Fragmentation IV
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InterventionPilot Test
Attempt to get sari sellers to build weak bridging ties with other sari sellers and see how these impact business, networks and PPI
Use information and skills sari sellers want to entice bridge building
Villupuram treatment group and Pondicherry the control group
Assumption: BWDA internal network is a safe place to build weak, bridging ties
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InterventionSari sellers have agreed to form an
association as a result of this research. BWDA is seriously consider buying saris
in bulk for sari sellers. Will not be part of PhD research. But shows how spillover could work.
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ContributionIf research questions can be answered
successfully, microfinance institutions in India can help their clients develop the weak, bridging ties that could help increase their businesses and their poverty reduction.