This paper examines the effects of men's and women's having greater bargaining power compared with their participation in group-based micro-credit programs on a husbands, and having greater freedom of mobility. large set of qualitative responses to questions that Female credit also tended to increase spousal characterize women's autonomy and gender relations communication in general about family planning and within the household. The data come from a special parenting concerns. The effects of male credit on survey carried out in rural Bangladesh in 1998-99. The women's empowerment were, at best, neutral, and at results are consistent with the view that women's worse, decidedly negative. Male credit had a negative participation in micro-credit programs helps to increase effect on several arenas of women's empowerment, women's empowerment. Credit program participation including physical mobility, access to savings and leads to women taking a greater role in household economic resources, and power to manage some decisionmaking, having greater access to financial and household transactions. economic resources, having greater social networks, This paper-a product of Rural Development, Development Research Group-is part of a larger effort in the group to understand how the micro-credit program helps empower women. Copies of the paper are available free from the World Bank,

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Are subsidies to female education worth supporting to enhance socioeconomic and demographic changes? This paper examines whether or not the Female Secondary Stipend and Assistance Program (FSSAP) in Bangladesh matters. If it does, how much and in what way—on both observed short- and long- term outcomes associated with female education? How did FSSAP impact the education of children, and boys in particular? The paper also explores the impact on female labor force participation, as well as age at marriage, fertility, and other effects on society.

The Policy Research Working Paper Series disseminates the findings of work in progress to encourage the exchange of ideas about development issues. An objective of the series is to get the findings out quickly, even if the presentations are less than fully polished. The papers carry the names of the authors and should be cited accordingly. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this paper are entirely those of the authors. They do not necessarily represent the views of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/World Bank and its affiliated organizations, or those of the Executive Directors of the World Bank or the governments they represent.

The Policy Research Working Paper Series disseminates the findings of work in progress to encourage the exchange of ideas about development issues. An objective of the series is to get the findings out quickly, even if the presentations are less than fully polished. The papers carry the names of the authors and should be cited accordingly. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this paper are entirely those of the authors. They do not necessarily represent the views of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/World Bank and its affiliated organizations, or those of the Executive Directors of the World Bank or the governments they represent.