An Examination Of The Association Between Demographic Variables And Income-Expenditure Patterns Of Self-Help Group (SHG) Members

Abstract

Background: This study investigates the association between demographic variables and the income-expenditure patterns of Self-Help Group (SHG) members in Himachal Pradesh. Understanding these relationships is vital for assessing the economic empowerment of SHG participants and for designing effective development interventions.

Methods: Primary data were collected from 450 SHG respondents using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and the chi-square (χ²) test were applied with SPSS (version 2025) to examine the relationships between demographic variables age, social category, education, and occupation, and economic indicators such as personal income, household income, savings, and monthly expenditure.

Results: The analysis revealed that social category, education, and occupation were significantly associated with personal income, household income, and monthly expenditure. Education and occupation also showed significant associations with savings, while social category did not. Age exhibited no significant relationship with any of the economic indicators. The findings highlight the critical role of educational attainment in enhancing household income and promoting economic empowerment among SHG members.