Capital structure and CEO tenure in microfinance institutions

From the inside of a PhD Program in International Management

Influence of Ownership Type and CEO Power on Residual Loss: Evidence From the Global Microfinance Industry

This study examines whether the agency cost component referred to as “residual loss” differs between nonprofit and shareholder-owned microfinance organizations and whether such costs are further influenced by CEO power. We use operating expenses, asset utilization, liquidity, and tangible asset intensity to proxy for residual loss. Using 374 microfinance organizations located in 76 countries, we find evidence that the residual loss is higher in microfinance organizations incorporated as nonprofits, but only if the CEO is powerful. Our empirical evidence illustrates the importance of installing proper governance mechanisms to minimize costs caused by high managerial power in the nonprofit s…