Financial performance and outreach
Subtitle: a global analysis of leading microbanks
By: Jonathan Morduch, Robert Cull, Asli Demirguc-Kunt
Contributors: Cull, Robert J.; World Bank
Series: Policy research working paper -- 3827; Policy research working papers (Online) -- 3827.
Publisher: World Bank
Published: 2006
Place of publication: Washington, D.C
Language: eng
Format: [electronic resource] :
Subjects: Microfinance; Case studies; Bank loans
Description: "Microfinance contracts have proven able to secure high rates of loan repayment in the face of limited liability and information asymmetries, but high repayment rates have not translated easily into profits for most microbanks.  Profitability, though, is at the heart of the promise that microfinance can deliver poverty reduction while not relying on ongoing subsidy.  The authors examine why this promise remains unmet for most institutions.  Using a data set with unusually high quality financial information on 124 institutions in 49 countries, they explore the patterns of profitability, loan repayment, and cost reduction.  The authors find that institutional design and orientation matter substantially.  Lenders that do not use group-based methods to overcome incentive problems experience weaker portfolio quality and lower profit rates when interest rates are raised substantially.  For these individual-based lenders, one key to achieving profitability is investing more heavily in staff costs-a finding consistent with the economics of information but contrary to the conventional wisdom that profitability is largely a function of minimizing cost. "--World Bank web site.
Notes: Title from PDF file as viewed on 1/26/2006.

Includes bibliographical references.

Also available in print.

System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Mode of access: World Wide Web.