Role of Economic Ties in Group Loan Repayment: Impact of Agricultural Cooperatives with Field Experiments

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Last fiscal year, I achieved my research objectives and had several research achievements, for example, 2 published papers, 1 international conference, and 2 awards (runner up prize at HIRAKU 3MT competition). The brief summary of my research results are presented as below.[1] The first research objective was to examine impacts of microfinance on household welfare of ethnic minorities. I conducted a survey in Bac Kan province, Vietnam to collect data of 289 ethnic minority households. I found positive impacts on total expenditure and educational expenditure, supporting the welfare effects of microfinance on ethnic minorities. This research was published at Progress in Development Studies.[2] The second research objective was to experimentally examine impacts of 50% price subsidy and information treatment on farmers’ adoption of organic fertilizer. The experiment involved 1287 small-scale tea farmers in Thai Nguyen province, Vietnam. My findings suggested the potential of information treatment to be a substitute for the subsidy to enhance farmers’ pro-environmental production. This research was presented at 2019 ESA North America Meeting.[3] The third research objective was to quantify the causal effect of awareness about land tenure security (LTS) on investments in agriculture. I used panel data from Viet Nam Access to Resources Household Survey. My findings highlighted the positive impacts of LTS awareness on farmers’ investments in soil fertility, supporting the promotion of sustainable agriculture. This research was accepted to publish at Land Use Policy.