Thomas Dufhues

Bio: Thomas Dufhues is an academic researcher from Leibniz Association. The author has contributed to research in topics: Social mobility & Social capital. The author has an hindex of 13, co-authored 29 publications receiving 393 citations.

Network Based Social Capital and Individual Loan Repayment Performance

Abstract: This study analyses the effects of social capital on the repayment behaviour of borrowers in Thailand. In the context of agricultural economics, an innovative data collection approach is used that originates from the field of sociology. A personal network survey is carried out to measure the individual social capital of borrowers. Social capital variables are defined according to: tie strength (bonding/bridging) and social distance (linking) between the respondent and his/her network member. Bonding social capital has a significant and positive influence on repayment performance. However, we find no significant evidence for an effect of bridging and linking social capital.

Outreach of credit institutes and households' access constraints to formal credit in Northern Vietnam

Abstract: Most policy and research interest regarding rural credit markets revolves around the perception that poor households in developing countries lack access to credit, which is believed to have negative consequences for household welfare. An important feature of the rural credit market is that access to credit is easier for some groups than for others. The Vietnamese government supplied credit on preferential terms, particularly to rural households, throug state-owned financial intermediaries. The share of the informal sector was thus considerably reduced from 78% (1992/93) of all outstanding loans to 54% (1997/98) in favor of the formal sector. However, there is evidence from other developing countries that credit constraints persist despite the expansion of rural finance. Hulme and Mosley (1996) state that there is increasing evidence that the poorest 20% of the population are excluded from rural credit programs. Thus, even in Vietnam the question remains: did the Vietnamese government succeed in reaching the poor, or do groups of people exist who are still access-constrained? Quantitative (N=260) and qualitative data collection took place between March 2000 and 2001. The quantitative data comprise cross-sectional household-level data from two different districts in Northern Vietnam. The poverty outreach of formal rural lenders was analyzed using Principal Component Analysis, while access to formal credit was investigated using a binary logit analysis. The poverty outreach of the formal lenders is quite satisfactory since about 50% of all predominantly poor rural households have access to formal credit. However, the poorest households are seldom clients of formal lenders. Yet, it is not their extreme general poverty that determines their access to formal credit. The results indicate that only certain aspects of poverty, e.g. low quality of housing, have an important influence on access to formal credit in Vietnam. The poorest households simply have much less demand for formal credit. Offering new credit products would only slightly improve the credit coverage of poorer households. More promising would be a specialized pro-poor extension service to widen the scope of their investment ideas and possibilities, combined with general improvement of the infrastructure. All in all, the most appropriate tool to incorporate poorer households into the formal financial system would be mobilization of savings. Nevertheless, the number of access-constrained households is surprisingly low. One reason for the low number is the weakening or eradication of former access constraints. Some acces barriers do still exist, e.g. towards ethnic minorities or female-led households. To reduce these access barriers, the actions to be taken should be catering to the specific needs and the circumstances of those households that lack access.

Social capital and loan repayment performance in Southeast Asia

Abstract: This paper analyses the effects of different forms of social capital on credit repayment behaviour. In the context of development economics an innovative data collection approach is used that originates from the field of sociology. A personal network survey is carried out to measure the individual social capital of borrowers. We distinguish four social capital variables between the respondent and his/her network members according to tie strength (bonding/bridging) and social distance (bonding link /bridging link ). The effects of social capital vary according to socio-cultural context. For instance, in Thailand bonding and in Vietnam bridging link social capital has a positive effect on loan repayment.

Social capital and rural development: literature review and current state of the art

Abstract: Sozialkapital hat innerhalb der letzten zwei Jahrzehnte als interdisziplinares Konzept eine enorme Bedeutung sowohl in der Wissenschaft als auch in der praktischen landlichen Entwicklung erlangt Trotz eines 'Booms' an wissenschaftlichen und nicht wissenschaftlichen Arbeiten bleibt das Konzept wenig greifbar Bisher konnte sich die wissenschaftliche Gemeinde auf keine allgemeingultige Definition einigen Sehr unterschiedliche und zum Teil sehr umfassende Definitionen sind in Gebrauch Neuere Arbeiten tendieren allerdings dazu, Sozialkapital enger zu definieren und Netzwerke in den Vordergrund zu stellen Nichtsdestotrotz werden strukturelle Komponenten von Sozialkapital oder Netzwerken nur selten in Einkommens- und Armutsanalysen einbezogen Es wird auch noch oft unterstellt, dass Sozialkapital eine homogene Ressource ist Deshalb werden dessen unterschiedlichen Auspragungen noch seltener untersucht Das Hauptziel dieses Diskussionspapiers ist es, einen geeigneten Ansatz fur die empirische Forschung im Bereich landlicher Entwicklung, basierend auf dem Netzwerkansatz, herauszuarbeiten Basierend auf einer intensiven Literaturrecherche empfiehlt das Papier eine klare und einfache Definition von Sozialkapital Sozialkapital wird als Netzwerk plus Ressourcen definiert Unterschiedliche Formen von Sozialkapital ('Bonding' und 'Bridging') werden uber die Starke der Beziehung der Netzwerkteilnehmer bestimmt

Bowling alone: The collapse and revival of American community

Abstract: The present historical moment may seem a particularly inopportune time to review Bowling Alone, Robert Putnam's latest exploration of civic decline in America. After all, the outpouring of volunteerism, solidarity, patriotism, and self-sacrifice displayed by Americans in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks appears to fly in the face of Putnam's central argument: that \"social capital\" -defined as \"social networks and the norms of reciprocity and trustworthiness that arise from them\" (p. 19)'has declined to dangerously low levels in America over the last three decades. However, Putnam is not fazed in the least by the recent effusion of solidarity. Quite the contrary, he sees in it the potential to \"reverse what has been a 30to 40-year steady decline in most measures of connectedness or community.\"' As an example of how the current \"war on terrorism\" could generate a durable civic renewal, Putnam points to the burst in civic practices that occurred during and after World War II, which he says \"permanently marked\" the generation that lived through it and had a \"terrific effect on American public life over the last half-century.\" 3 If Americans can follow this example and channel their current civic

The Logic and Limits of Trust

Abstract: Inevitably, reading is one of the requirements to be undergone. To improve the performance and quality, someone needs to have something new every day. It will suggest you to have more inspirations, then. However, the needs of inspirations will make you searching for some sources. Even from the other people experience, internet, and many books. Books and internet are the recommended media to help you improving your quality and performance.