Análisis del impacto socioeconómico de los microcréditos otorgados por la Cooperativa de Ahorro y Crédito Riobamba Ltda., en la ciudad de Riobamba. 2012 – 2017

Abstract

Microcredits are considered loans aimed mainly at vulnerable groups as an alternative for access to credit that allows them to undertake activities to generate subsistence income. However, there are conflicting positions: on the one hand, it is considered a key factor for the economic and social development of the petitioners and, on the other hand, it is considered a mechanism that deepens poverty. This being the situation, the present study shows the impact that microcredit has generated, according to the feelings of the members of the Cooperativa de Ahorro y Crédito Riobamba (COAC) Ltda. For this purpose, a mixed methodology (quantitative and qualitative) was applied, which facilitated the use of multiple data collection and analysis techniques. The results show that, at the personal, family, community and entrepreneurial levels, microcredit has generated positive impacts on the members who have had access to it, contributing to their personal development, improving their living conditions, generating sources of employment and enhancing their entrepreneurship, thus contributing to poverty reduction and strengthening more egalitarian relationships. In addition, it is evident that individual characteristics such as gender, age, origin, education level and marital status influence the probability of using microcredit to create or promote entrepreneurship. The factors specific to the enterprise also have an impact, demonstrating that self-employed partners, who pay rent, who have a RUC, are more likely to invest the microcredit in the empowerment of the enterprise. The opposite situation occurs with the monthly income factor. Regarding the impact of microcredit on the improvement of the quality of life of the members, it is perceived that, at the personal level, microcredit contributes to the development of selfesteem of the members. At the family level, it generates resources for family subsistence, since the remaining funds are invested in health, food and education. At the community and Edison Mauricio, Duta Uyaguary 5 institutional level, they generate some jobs for the people of the community, and have an impact on the strengthening of respectful relationships and social cohesion. Finally, at the level of entrepreneurship, it contributes to the development of enterprises and as a result to the improvement of the economic and social living conditions of the people involved. In conclusion, for this group studied, microcredit has allowed them to improve their living conditions, because, from the investment of the resources granted in their enterprises, they have improved their income and, thus, have increased their economic and social security and selfesteem. This situation has led to the development of family and community relationships of respect, solidarity and cooperation; therefore, microcredit is considered "a seed of personal, economic and social development".