Credit programs for the poor and reproductive behavior in low-income countries: Are the reported causal relationships the result of heterogeneity bias?

Group-based lending programs for the poor have drawn much attention recentl y. As many of these programs target women, an important research question i s whether program participation significantly changes reproductive behavior and whether the gender of the participant matters. Using survey data from 87 Bangladeshi villages, we estimate the impact of female and male particip ation in group-based credit programs on reproductive behavior while attendi ng to issues of self-selection and endogeneity. We find no evidence that wo men's participation in group-based credit programs increases contraceptive use or reduces fertility Men's participation reduces fertility and may slig htly increase contraceptive use.