Youth borrowers improving themselves through endowment loans

Abstract

This paper identifies key factors that explain why some borrowers access credit from microfinance institutions earlier in their lives for productive purposes than other borrowers. Productive credit usage facilitates these youth borrowers to break free from the poverty cycle and increase their initial endowment levels. Examining the differences between borrowers, the results indicate that youths borrowing for investment purposes have higher levels of all types of education. These youth borrowers are more likely able to break a consumption-only borrowing cycle to improve livelihoods. The findings suggest and promote future policy improvements for youth borrowers that intersect education with microlending.