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A Model of Mission Drift in Microfinance Institutions

Author

Listed:
  • Suman Ghosh

    (Department of Economics, College of Business, Florida Atlantic University)

  • Eric Van Tassel

    (Department of Economics, College of Business, Florida Atlantic University)

Abstract

In this paper we offer a theoretical examination of the phenomenon known as mission drift. In recent years there have been claims that the entry of large donors with deep pockets have led to a mission drift phenomenon, whereby microfinance institutions who were previously catering to the poorest agents have drifted towards catering to the less poor. We offer an explanation for how the change in the lending portfolio of a poverty minimizing microfinance institution might be linked to the phenomenon of increasing commercialization through the advent of these large profit oriented donors. The degree to which lending portfolios change turns out to be a function of both the supply of donor funds and the strategic interaction between heterogeneous microfinance institutions.

Suggested Citation

  • Suman Ghosh & Eric Van Tassel, 2008. "A Model of Mission Drift in Microfinance Institutions," Working Papers 08003, Department of Economics, College of Business, Florida Atlantic University.
    • Handle: RePEc:fal:wpaper:08003
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Dlamini, Menzie S., 2012. "The effect of subsidies on the performance and sustainability of microfinance institutions in sub-Saharan Africa," Research Theses 134487, Collaborative Masters Program in Agricultural and Applied Economics.
    2. Ajit Mishra & S Sarangi, 2010. "Provider Incentives and Delivery of Developmental Goods," Department of Economics Working Papers 14/10, University of Bath, Department of Economics.
    3. Brière, Marie & Szafarz, Ariane, 2015. "Does Commercial Microfinance Belong to the Financial Sector? Lessons from the Stock Market," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 110-125.
    4. Sagamba, MoÏse & Shchetinin, Oleg & Yusupov, Nurmukhammad, 2013. "Do Microloan Officers Want to Lend to the Less Advantaged? Evidence from a Choice Experiment," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 182-198.
    5. Bos, Jaap W.B. & Millone, Matteo, 2015. "Practice What You Preach: Microfinance Business Models and Operational Efficiency," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 28-42.
    6. repec:dau:papers:123456789/14039 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. Fall, François & Akim, Al-mouksit & Wassongma, Harouna, 2018. "DEA and SFA research on the efficiency of microfinance institutions: A meta-analysis," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 176-188.
    8. repec:dau:papers:123456789/7858 is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Isabelle Agier & Ariane Szafarz, 2013. "Subjectivity in credit allocation to micro-entrepreneurs: evidence from Brazil," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 41(1), pages 263-275, June.
    10. Dlamini, Menzie S, 2011. "The effect of subsidies on the performance and sustainability of microfinance institutions in sub Saharan Africa," Research Theses 157512, Collaborative Masters Program in Agricultural and Applied Economics.
    11. Marie Briere & Ariane Szafarz, 2011. "Investment in Microfinance Equity: Risk, Return, and Diversification Benefits," Working Papers CEB 11-050, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    12. Cozarenco, Anastasia & Szafarz, Ariane, 2020. "The regulation of prosocial lending: Are loan ceilings effective?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    13. Serrano-Cinca, Carlos & Gutiérrez-Nieto, Begoña, 2014. "Microfinance, the long tail and mission drift," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 23(1), pages 181-194.
    14. Mishra, Ajit & Sarangi, Sudipta, 2016. "High-powered incentives and communication failure," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 131(PA), pages 51-60.
    15. Ascarya & Ali Sakti, 2019. "Designing Micro-Fintech Models For Islamic Micro Financial Institution In Indonesia," Working Papers WP/09/2019, Bank Indonesia.
    16. Hudon, Marek & Périlleux, Anaïs, 2014. "Surplus distribution and characteristics of social enterprises: Evidence from microfinance," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 54(2), pages 147-157.
    17. Sunil Sangwan & Narayan Chandra Nayak, 2019. "Do outreach approaches differ between Self-Help Group-Bank Linkage and Microfinance Institution-based microfinance? Evidences from Indian states," Journal of Social and Economic Development, Springer;Institute for Social and Economic Change, vol. 21(1), pages 93-115, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    microfinance; mission drift; poverty;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O16 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Financial Markets; Saving and Capital Investment; Corporate Finance and Governance
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages

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