COVID-19 lockdown and collective activities: Evidence from the world's largest self-help group program
Document Type
Article (peer-reviewed)
Publication Date
4-18-2023
Abstract
We study the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 on the monthly savings of self-help groups (SHGs) in India, and the role of SHGs in mitigating the economic effects of the lockdown. Administrative data suggest that monthly savings of SHGs declined by 66% between March and July of 2020, with larger declines in areas with more stringent lockdowns. Survey data revealed that SHG and non-SHG households had similar consumption and income losses during the lockdown. Households with SHG members and those that received assistance from SHGs in procuring ration or accessing community kitchens reported significantly higher food security, however.
Recommended Citation
Siwach, Garima, Thomas de Hoop, Chinmaya Holla Udayakumar, and Sapna Desai. 2023. "COVID-19 lockdown and collective activities: Evidence from the world's largest self-help group program," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, https://doi.org/10.1002/aepp.13370.
DOI
10.1002/aepp.13370
Language
English
Project
Evaluating the Integration of Health and Nutrition Messages Into Self-Help Groups in India; GIRL Center