Social Collateral: Women and Microfinance in Paraguay's Smuggling Economy

Caroline E. Schuster

Social Collateral: Women and Microfinance in Paraguay's Smuggling Economy
Format
Hardback
Publisher
University of California Press
Country
United States
Published
6 October 2015
Pages
288
ISBN
9780520287044

Social Collateral: Women and Microfinance in Paraguay’s Smuggling Economy

Caroline E. Schuster

Microcredit is part of a global trend of financial inclusion that brings banking services, especially small loans, to the world’s poor. In this book, Caroline Schuster explores Paraguayan solidarity lending as a window into the tensions between social development and global finance.

Social Collateral tracks collective debt across the commercial society and smuggling economies at the Paraguayan border by examining group loans made to women by nonprofit development programs. These highly regulated loans are secured through mutual support and peer pressure-social collateral-rather than through physical collateral. This story of social collateral necessarily includes an interwoven account about the feminization of solidarity lending. At its core is an economy of gender-from pink-collar financial work, to men’s committees, to women smugglers. At stake are interdependencies that bind borrowers and lenders, financial technologies, and Paraguayan development in ways that structure both global inequality and global opportunity.

This item is not currently in-stock. It can be ordered online and is expected to ship in approx 4 weeks

Our stock data is updated periodically, and availability may change throughout the day for in-demand items. Please call the relevant shop for the most current stock information. Prices are subject to change without notice.

Sign in or become a Readings Member to add this title to a wishlist.