6533b825fe1ef96bd12832e2
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Focus on Women in Microfinance Institutions
Roy MerslandBert D'espallierIsabelle Guérinsubject
Economic growthMicrofinanceFinancial performance050204 development studies05 social sciences1. No povertyDevelopmentlaw.inventionPeer review[SHS]Humanities and Social Sciences5. Gender equalitylaw8. Economic growth0502 economics and businessDemographic economicsBusiness050207 economics10. No inequalityEmpirical evidencehealth care economics and organizationsComputingMilieux_MISCELLANEOUSdescription
Abstract We provide empirical evidence on focusing on women in microfinance and its consequences for microfinance institutions (MFIs). Based on a global dataset, the results indicate that a focus on women is associated with group-lending methods, international orientation, smaller loans, and non-commercial legal status. We find that a focus on women significantly improves repayment but does not enhance overall financial performance because of higher relative costs. Moreover, the higher relative costs do not stem from servicing women per se but from the smaller loans offered to women and the group-lending methodology practised by MFIs focusing on women.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-05-01 |