Is Microcredit an Effective Short-Term Tool in Curbing Migration? The Case of the Rural Areas of Shkodra, Albania.

Abstract

Albania has recently faced the phenomenon of migration, which has become a major problem even for current politics. In the last 10 years, the population of Albania, and especially that of the mountainous areas, has been significantly reduced. Based on INSTAT data the net migration level is -32,823 which a significant figure in comparison with the population is. Net migration in 2021 is 2.2 times greater compared to 2017. During a study work carried out to measure the impact of microcredit on the social economic indicator of rural areas in Shkoder (northwest of Albania), we notice that in this area with significant natural resources people cannot use them due to a lack of liquidity. The unemployment rate is also too high in this region, so they see emigration as the only alternative to improve their livelihood. 

In this paper, we aim to analyze what is the effect of microcredit on curbing migration in the short term and to indicate measures needed in this case from the government or other actors.

Two groups (borrowers, not borrowers) are interviewed, and using the z-test we are going to compare their opinion on their possible migration to reach a conclusion.