Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Do Self-Help Groups Work On Achieving Economic Goals? New Evidence From A Field Experiment In Medellin, Colombia, Paulina Aguinaga Lezcano

Master's Theses

Abstract: This research is the first study to introduce an experimental setting to test the implication of a poverty alleviation model inspired by the Family Independence Initiative (FII) in a developing country. The FII is a poverty alleviation approach that has shown remarkable results in improving the living conditions of low-income individuals in three cities of the United States. It promotes self-improvement through setting goals, incentive schemes, and self-help groups (SHGs). The results suggest that the FII model can be successfully implemented as a poverty alleviation policy in a developing country. The model does have a positive and significant effect …