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How the method for delivering loans impacts on the economic efficiency of microfinance institutions

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  • José L. Fernández Sánchez
  • María D. Odriozola
  • Elisa Baraibar‐Diez

Abstract

The aim of this research has been to analyse how the method employed for lending can affect the cost efficiency of microfinance institutions (MFIs) since innovations for lending have been introduced in the sector in the last years and there are not empirical studies to analyse the actual impact of it. The improvement of MFIs' cost efficiency is very important for these institutions to achieve their financial self‐sufficiency and be sustainable in the long run. The data employed in this analysis have been an unbalanced panel composed of a sample of 1017 MFIs for the 2008–2018 period and collected from the microfinance information exchange (MIX) database. Our results also show that community or group‐lending methods, as village banking and solidarity groups, have a positive effect on the MFIs’ cost efficiency versus traditional methods based on individual lending. In addition, we have found that MFIs with a higher proportion of borrowers in rural areas are more cost efficient than institutions with more borrowers in urban areas, although community or group‐lending methods have a larger positive effect on MFIs’ cost efficiency in urban than in rural areas.

Suggested Citation

  • José L. Fernández Sánchez & María D. Odriozola & Elisa Baraibar‐Diez, 2024. "How the method for delivering loans impacts on the economic efficiency of microfinance institutions," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 15(S1), pages 92-102, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:glopol:v:15:y:2024:i:s1:p:92-102
    DOI: 10.1111/1758-5899.13312
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Ramjeevan Prasad Das & Manish Kumar Jha & Amit Prakash Jha, 2025. "Evaluating Financial Efficiency of Microfinance Institutions: Evidence From India," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 46(5), pages 2968-2985, July.
    2. Asif Khan & Mustafa Raza Rabbani & Rashed Aljalahma & Sabia Tabassum & Ahmad Al-Hiyari, 2025. "Demystifying the Trade-Off Debate in Financial Sustainability and Social Outreach and Ranking of Indian MFIs: A Bootstrap DEA Framework," Asia-Pacific Financial Markets, Springer;Japanese Association of Financial Economics and Engineering, vol. 32(4), pages 1283-1306, December.
    3. Prashasti Keshari & Awadhesh Kumar Tiwari, 2026. "Financial inclusion in rural region—a review and research agenda," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 12(1), pages 1-25, December.

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