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20 years of research in microfinance: An information management approach

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  • Gutiérrez-Nieto, Begoña
  • Serrano-Cinca, Carlos

Abstract

In the last 20 years, microfinance has moved from a promise to reality, although with ups and downs. This paper reviews 1874 papers published from 1997 to 2017 to perform a scientometric analysis of the microfinance field. The literature review is based on bibliometric data: keyword co-occurrence networks and citation networks were exploited for knowledge mapping. Data analysis shows the two research traditions: papers focusing on clients (welfarists) and papers focusing on microfinance entities themselves (institutionalists). Institutionalism, which had little presence in the early research in microfinance, now exhibits great strength. A chronological analysis reveals the evolution of the topics most interesting to researchers: the first stage described the innovations of the microcredit practices and their impact; the second and very expansive stage in which microfinance institutions’ peculiarities were analyzed; and nowadays the sector is mature but with negative aspects arising, such as mission drift. The keywords analysis discovers emerging research topics, shows the use of sophisticated techniques, and recognizes an emerging trend of the sector: achieving financial inclusion.

Suggested Citation

  • Gutiérrez-Nieto, Begoña & Serrano-Cinca, Carlos, 2019. "20 years of research in microfinance: An information management approach," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 183-197.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ininma:v:47:y:2019:i:c:p:183-197
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2019.01.001
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    Cited by:

    1. Mª Celia López-Penabad & José Manuel Maside-Sanfiz & Yousif Agha & Ana Iglesias-Casal, 2024. "Microfinance Institutions and Corporate Social Responsibility. A scientometric study," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 10(1), pages 1-25, December.
    2. Md Imran Hossain & Md Aslam Mia & Lucia Dalla Pellegrina, 2024. "A systematic review of gender diversity and its impact on the performance of Microfinance Institutions," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 10(1), pages 1-23, December.
    3. Pilar López-Sánchez & Elena Urquía-Grande & Cristina Campo & Andrés L. Cancer, 2022. "Delving into the Determinants of Default Risk in Savings Groups: Empirical Evidence from Ecuador," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 34(6), pages 2625-2650, December.
    4. Anastasia Cozarenco & Ariane Szafarz & Mike Tsionas, 2025. "Women, immigrants, and microcredit in Europe: a Bayesian approach," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 344(1), pages 103-134, January.
    5. Yi Sun & Shihui Li & Rui Wang, 2023. "Fintech: from budding to explosion - an overview of the current state of research," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 17(3), pages 715-755, April.
    6. Gallego-Losada, María-Jesús & Montero-Navarro, Antonio & García-Abajo, Elisa & Gallego-Losada, Rocío, 2023. "Digital financial inclusion. Visualizing the academic literature," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    7. Liu, Aiping & Urquía-Grande, Elena & López-Sánchez, Pilar & Rodríguez-López, Ángel, 2023. "Research into microfinance and ICTs: A bibliometric analysis," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    8. Ridoy Deb Nath & Mohammad Ashraful Ferdous Chowdhury, 2021. "Shadow banking: a bibliometric and content analysis," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 7(1), pages 1-29, December.
    9. João Paulo Coelho Ribeiro & Fábio Duarte & Ana Paula Matias Gama, 2022. "Does microfinance foster the development of its clients? A bibliometric analysis and systematic literature review," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 8(1), pages 1-35, December.
    10. Mohammad Zainuddin & Ida Md Yasin, 2020. "Resurgence of an Ancient Idea? A Study on the History of Microfinance," FIIB Business Review, , vol. 9(2), pages 78-84, June.
    11. Kyungmin Park & Hannah Jun, 2025. "Win‐win or tradeoff? Investigating the hybridity of impact investing in Cambodia's microfinance industry," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 37(1), pages 150-171, January.
    12. Deepak Mishra & Vinay Kandpal & Naveen Agarwal & Barun Srivastava, 2024. "Financial Inclusion and Its Ripple Effects on Socio-Economic Development: A Comprehensive Review," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-20, March.
    13. Liu, Aiping & Urquía-Grande, Elena & López-Sánchez, Pilar & Rodríguez-López, Ángel, 2022. "How technology paradoxes and self-efficacy affect the resistance of facial recognition technology in online microfinance platforms: Evidence from China," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    14. Aracil, Elisa & Nájera-Sánchez, Juan-José & Forcadell, Francisco Javier, 2021. "Sustainable banking: A literature review and integrative framework," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 42(C).
    15. Tareq Almazyad & Norhayati Zakuan & Laith Alrubaiee & Shamaila Butt & Azmirul Ashaari & Raghed IBRAHIM ESMAEEL, 2024. "Bibliometric Insights into Crisis Management: A Review of Key Literature," Advances in Decision Sciences, Asia University, Taiwan, vol. 28(2), pages 1-34, June.
    16. Simon Zaby, 2019. "Science Mapping of the Global Knowledge Base on Microfinance: Influential Authors and Documents, 1989–2019," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(14), pages 1-21, July.
    17. Thomas CHUFFART & Marie-Line DUBOZ & Paipet Corine ZOGBE, 2023. "Microfinance, inclusion financière et inégalités de revenus dans l’UEMOA," Region et Developpement, Region et Developpement, LEAD, Universite du Sud - Toulon Var, vol. 58, pages 103-121.
    18. Bertheau, Paul, 2020. "Assessing the impact of renewable energy on local development and the Sustainable Development Goals: Insights from a small Philippine island," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    19. Mourad Aarabe & Nouhaila Ben Khizzou & Lhoussaine Alla & Ahmed Benjelloun, 2025. "Customer Experience Management in the Tourism Sector: Insights from a Bibliometric and Thematic Analysis," Tourism and Hospitality, MDPI, vol. 6(2), pages 1-35, June.
    20. Arvind Ashta & Surender Mor, 2022. "Is Microcredit a Reverse Innovation?," FIIB Business Review, , vol. 11(2), pages 225-234, June.
    21. Adnan Ali & Suresh Ramakrishnan & Faisal Faisal & Zahir Ullah, 2023. "Bibliometric analysis of global research trends on microfinance institutions and microfinance: Suggesting new research agendas," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(4), pages 3552-3573, October.
    22. Adnan Ali & Suresh Ramakrishnan & Faisal Faisal & Tooba Akram & Sidra Salam & Sami Ur Rahman, 2023. "Bibliometric analysis of finance and natural resources: past trend, current development, and future prospects," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(11), pages 13035-13064, November.
    23. Dr. J.A Prasansha Kumari, 2021. "The Impact of the Dimensions of Microfinance on Poverty Reduction: Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) via Individual Measurement Models," International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation, International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI), vol. 8(2), pages 112-121, February.

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • B21 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought since 1925 - - - Microeconomics
    • C83 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Survey Methods; Sampling Methods

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