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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Assessing “Mixed-Use” - Evaluating New Urbanism In New England, Michael K. Daniels May 2014

Assessing “Mixed-Use” - Evaluating New Urbanism In New England, Michael K. Daniels

Honors Scholar Theses

New urbanism is a movement in city and regional planning that is primarily based upon a return to mixed-use development. New urbanists contend that reintegrating land uses to make “walkable” urban neighborhoods will help increase residential financial diversity and make once downtrodden areas desirable again. It remains unclear if physical design changes can truly impact economic and social conditions. Is mixed-use development worth pursuing for cities looking to restore economic diversity? To investigate this question, I turn to two Southern New England cities of similar population which have faced parallel struggles: Worcester, Massachusetts and Providence, Rhode Island. I analyze the …


From Inclusion To Empowerment: The Political Implications Of Microfinance, Kateri R. Ciccaglione May 2014

From Inclusion To Empowerment: The Political Implications Of Microfinance, Kateri R. Ciccaglione

Honors Scholar Theses

There has been extensive literature on the positive effects of microfinance in developing countries with regards to financial inclusion of the poor, economic growth and poverty reduction. This paper seeks to take these facts one step further, arguing that microfinance paves the way for the political empowerment of the poor because it creates social capital in developing economies. I make the case that a growth in social capital due to financial inclusion helps impoverished people realize their political potential by instilling a need for political awareness and increased participation in the political process. An analysis of the current literature concerning …