Advisor(s)

Dennis Shaughnessy

Abstract

16.2% of all Dominican citizens currently live on less than $2 per day. This paper analyzes three methods of poverty alleviation utilized in the Dominican Republic: development aid, microfinance, and social investment funds. To analyze these efforts, the following criteria were used: (a) the ability to serve the poorest of the poor, (b) total impact made, and (c) sustainability of the aid organization and the poverty alleviation program. Samples of development aid programs, microfinance institutions (MFIs), and social investment funds operating in the Dominican Republic were analyzed. Development aid efforts have proven ineffective in the past, ultimately marginally hurting the communities they seek to aid. The MFIs have impacted thousands of families facing extreme poverty. Social investment funds feeding Dominican cooperatives and MFIs with sources of capital have impacted thousands of families as well. However, no poverty alleviation program analyzed has provided quantifiable measurements of the sustainable improvement in quality of life for families the programs seek to help. As such, cost-per-life-saved tools should be developed and implemented to better analyze poverty alleviation program efficiency.

Date Accepted

5-31-2009

Keywords

Microfinance, Dominican Republic, Poverty

Degree Grantor

Notheastern University

Disciplines

Other Business | Social and Behavioral Sciences

Publication Date

Spring 5-31-2009


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