Use of borrowed start-up capital and micro enterprises in Mexico: existence of liquidity constraints

Using the National Survey of Micro enterprises (ENAMIN, Encuesta Nacional de Micronegocios) data I test for the presence of liquidity constraints for obtaining start-up capital in Mexico’s credit markets (formal and informal). I use the bivariate probit model with partial observability to recognize two important decisions in the credit allocation process: first, whether an owner of a micro enterprise wants to apply start-up loan and, second, whether financial institutions decide to provide or not to provide the loan. Finally, I compare the results from this model to those of a simple probit model that looks at whether a micro enterprise owner gets funding or not (i.e. the probit model implicitly assumes that no liquidity constraints exist). The findings of this study show that there is substantial heterogeneity in the socioeconomic background of borrowers, as well as in the sources for start-up capital employed by micro enterprises in Mexico. Moreover, there is clear evidence of liquidity constraints in the market for start-up capital that could hinder the creation and growth of small enterprises. Applying the findings of the study, policy makers could fundamentally increase the effectiveness in establishing an economic environment that fosters growth.

A meta-analysis examining the nature of trade-offs in microfinance

This meta-analysis reviews existing evidence on the ability of microfinance institutions (MFI) to achieve social and financial goals simultaneously. Through an initial screen of 3088 articles covering empirical tests on microfinance performance trade-offs, I synthesize 623 empirical findings from 61 studies to identify the dimensions of MFI performance, and study characteristics associated with trade-offs between financial and social objectives Overall, findings suggest that depth of outreach, cost of outreach, and efficiency indicators increase the prevalence of trade-offs, while risk indicators are associated with fewer trade-offs. Profitability indicators and outreach to women are found to have no significant effect on performance trade-offs. Additionally, study characteristics suggest that using an economic frontier methodology or publishing in development journals increases the incidence of trade-offs, while time trends reveal that trade-offs become less acute as the industry matures. Consequently, MFIs face difficult decisions in relation to the possibility that social goals need be sacrificed to achieve financial sustainability.     

Discipline and flexibility: a behavioural perspective on microfinance product design

The success of both microcredit and micro-savings products rests upon simplicity and standardization in order to stimulate client discipline. However, these products lack flexibility. This paper attempts to make sense of behavioural product design in microfinance. We focus on the potential trade-offs between discipline and flexibility. While discipline devices encourage clients to make payments on time, microfinance product flexibility improves clients’ day-to-day money management and helps them cope with shocks. Our contribution is twofold. Firstly, we highlight the evidence-based advantages and disadvantages of flexible products in microfinance. Secondly, we present best-practice examples of flexible products offered by microfinance institutions worldwide.     

新疆农村信用社小额信贷与农户收入增长实证分析

农村小额信贷的既有实践是否对增加新疆农户收入有贡献,这是关乎小额信贷如何在新疆农村深化发展的直接经验。本文基于在新疆典型地区实地调研获取的抽样数据,通过建立回归模型,分析得出新疆农村信用社开展的小额信贷与农户收入呈正相关关系,即新疆农村信用社开展的农户小额信用贷款有利于农户收入的增长,并提出新疆农村信用社应扩大农户小额信贷规模、深化农村信用社内控管理、协调与政府关系等方面的建议。     

Predictors of microcredit default in Indian self‐help groups

This exploratory study was conducted to examine the reasons behind credit defaults in Self‐help Group‐based microfinance programs in India. The study adopted the mixed‐method approach. Focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted to collect information, and thematic analysis was followed to analyze data to identify the possible causes of loan defaults in self‐help groups (SHGs). Further, 120 defaulting and 120 performing SHGs were selected through stratified random sampling method. Finally, 960 respondents were randomly selected from 240 SHGs to collect information for quantitative inquiry. The ordinary least square (OLS) and probit models were engaged to process the data. This study identified three important attribution sets causing credit defaults, (i) bank‐related attributes, (ii) agency related attributes, and (iii) group dynamics. The probability of defaults in SHGs was predicted by the amount of loan disbursed by bank, agency's help in enterprise development, age of the microenterprise, microentrepreneurship of the SHG member, SHG visits to the bank, members dropped out from SHG, tenure of the president and secretary, and monthly membership saving in the SHG.     

Technological change,completeness of financing microstructures,and impact on well-being and income inequality

Financing microstructures are increasingly recognized as critical for promoting financial inclusion and improving overall well-being in developing countries. In practice, the digital transformation in finance has the potential to accelerate the optimal functioning of financing microstructures, including households' access to microfinance and microinsurance. Increased access to finance can lead to a reduction in income inequality and overall well-being for households. This paper investigates the impact of access to digital finance and financing microstructures on household well-being and the reduction of income inequality. To achieve this, we use a combination of propensity score matching, double difference, and smooth instrumental quantile regression as estimation methods with two periods of survey data. Specifically, the paper uses the FinScope consumer data (2016) and the Harmonized Living Standards Measurement Study (2018) from Togo in a comparative perspective. The results suggest that access to both digital finance and financing microstructure is a cultural game-changer that significantly improves overall household well-being and contributes to reducing income inequality.     

Financial performance and corporate governance in microfinance: Evidence from Asia

Good corporate governance is considered a building block of success for microfinance institutions (MFIs) as it is presumed to help them in achieving their social and financial goals. This paper analyzes the corporate governance and financial performance relationship for MFIs in Asia. We make use of a panel dataset involving 173 MFIs in 18 Asian countries for the period 2007–2011. We construct a corporate governance index based on seven measures pertaining to board size and composition, CEO characteristics, and ownership type. We then estimate the two-way relationship between this index and each of five different financial performance indicators. To address the likely simultaneity between corporate governance and financial performance, we adopt a two-stage least squares estimation approach with instrumental variables. Our results confirm the endogenous nature of corporate governance and financial performance. We conclude that profitability and sustainability of MFIs improve with good governance practices and conversely that more profitable and sustainable MFIs have better governance systems.     

When is the optimal lending contract in microfinance state non-contingent?

Whether a microfinance institution should use a state-contingent repayment or not is very important since a state-contingent loan can provide insurance for borrowers. However, the classic Grameen bank used state non-contingent repayment, which is puzzling since it forces poor borrowers to make their payments even under hard circumstances. This paper provides an explanation to this puzzle. We consider two modes of lending, group and individual lending, and for each mode we characterize the optimal lending and supervisory contracts when a staff member (a supervisor) can embezzle borrowers’ repayments by misrepresenting realized returns. We identify the main trade-off between the insurance gain and the cost of controlling the supervisor's misbehavior. We also find that group lending dominates individual lending either by providing more insurance or by saving audit costs.     

我国农村小额信贷效率低下的成因探析

针对我国农村小额信贷宏观效率与微观效率均较低下的现状,本文从农村金融体制、农村小额信贷风险度量、农村小额信贷运营成本、政府财政基础等方面出发,对我国农村小额信贷效率低下的原因进行了探讨。