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The Vulnerability of Microfinance to Financial Turmoil – Evidence from the Global Financial Crisis

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  • Wagner, Charlotte
  • Winkler, Adalbert

Abstract

Has microfinance become crisis-prone like other sources of finance? This paper provides empirical evidence on credit growth patterns of microfinance institutions in the early 2000s. Results suggest that microfinance has become vulnerable to financial turmoil. In the global financial crisis credit growth dropped sharply. Moreover, the crisis impact was more severe when institutions had been active in tapping domestic and international financial markets for funds and had operated in countries experiencing a severe post-crisis recession. Finally we find that microcredit adopted the cyclical characteristics of credit growth in the traditional banking sector, with credit booms followed by credit busts.

Suggested Citation

  • Wagner, Charlotte & Winkler, Adalbert, 2013. "The Vulnerability of Microfinance to Financial Turmoil – Evidence from the Global Financial Crisis," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 71-90.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:51:y:2013:i:c:p:71-90
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2013.05.008
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    Cited by:

    1. Erhardt, Eva, 2017. "Microfinance beyond self-employment: Evidence for firms in Bulgaria," MPRA Paper 79294, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Patrick Reichert, 2016. "A meta-analysis examining the nature of trade-offs in microfinance," Working Papers CEB 16-005, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    3. Luminita Postelnicu & Niels Hermes, 2018. "Microfinance Performance and Social Capital: A Cross-Country Analysis," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 153(2), pages 427-445, December.
    4. Cull, Robert & Navajas, Sergio & Nishida, Ippei & Zeiler, Renate, 2015. "A New Index of the Business Environment for Microfinance," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 357-388.
    5. Niels Hermes & Marek Hudon, 2018. "Determinants Of The Performance Of Microfinance Institutions: A Systematic Review," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(5), pages 1483-1513, December.
    6. B. Mak Arvin & Byron Lew (ed.), 2015. "Handbook on the Economics of Foreign Aid," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 15762, February.
    7. Janda, Karel & Van Tran, Quang & Zetek, Pavel, 2014. "Influence of External Funding on Microfinance Performance," MPRA Paper 58170, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Janda, Karel & Van Tran, Quang & Zetek, Pavel, 2014. "Vybrané faktory ovlivňující zapojení žen v mikrofinancích [The Selected Factors Influencing the Participation of Women in Microfinance]," MPRA Paper 59109, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    9. Wijesiri, Mahinda, 2016. "Weathering the storm: ownership structure and performance of microfinance institutions in the wake of the global financial crisis," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 238-247.
    10. Faisal Mustafa & Ambreen Khursheed & Maham Fatima, 2018. "Impact of global financial crunch on financially innovative microfinance institutions in South Asia," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 4(1), pages 1-11, December.
    11. Karel Janda & Pavel Zetek, 2015. "Mikrofinanční revoluce: kontroverze a výzvy [Microfinance Revolution: Controversies and Challenges]," Politická ekonomie, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2015(1), pages 108-130.
    12. Dilruba Khanam & Syeda Sonia Parvin & Muhammad Mohiuddin & Asadul Hoque & Zhan Su, 2018. "Financial Sustainability of Non-Governmental Microfinance Institutions (MFIs): A Cost-Efficiency Analysis of BRAC, ASA, and PROSHIKA from Bangladesh," Review of Economics & Finance, Better Advances Press, Canada, vol. 12, pages 43-56, May.
    13. Erhardt, Eva Christine, 2017. "Microfinance beyond self-employment: Evidence for firms in Bulgaria," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 75-95.
    14. Janda, Karel & Tran, Quang & Zetek, Pavel, 2014. "Vliv externího financování na mikrofinanční rozvoj - makro perspektiva [Influence of external funding on microfinance performance - macro perspective]," MPRA Paper 58166, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    15. Schulte, Markus & Winkler, Adalbert, 2019. "Drivers of solvency risk – Are microfinance institutions different?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 403-426.
    16. Isabel Sainz-Fernandez & Begoña Torre-Olmo & Carlos López-Gutiérrez & Sergio Sanfilippo-Azofra, 2018. "Development of the Financial Sector and Growth of Microfinance Institutions: The Moderating Effect of Economic Growth," Sustainability, MDPI, Open Access Journal, vol. 10(11), pages 1-1, October.
    17. Xiaohua Wang & Meilan Chen & Xi He & Fangfang Zhang, 2018. "Credit Constraint, Credit Adjustment, and Sustainable Growth of Farmers’ Income," Sustainability, MDPI, Open Access Journal, vol. 10(12), pages 1-1, November.
    18. Janda, Karel & Zetek, Pavel, 2014. "Survey of Microfinance Controversies and Challenges," MPRA Paper 56657, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    19. Soumaré, Issouf & Tchakoute Tchuigoua, Hubert & Hessou, Hélyoth T.S., 2020. "Are microfinance institutions resilient to economic slowdown? Evidence from their capital ratio adjustment over the business cycle," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 1-22.
    20. Chen, Rui & Hartarska, Valentina, 2018. "Are All Banking Crises the Same: Evidence from MFIs," 2018 Annual Meeting, August 5-7, Washington, D.C. 274227, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    21. Syeda Sonia Parvin & Belayet Hossain & Muhammad Mohiuddin & Qingfeng Cao, 2020. "Capital Structure, Financial Performance, and Sustainability of Micro-Finance Institutions (MFIs) in Bangladesh," Sustainability, MDPI, Open Access Journal, vol. 12(15), pages 1-1, August.
    22. Hermes, Cornelis & Hudon, M., 2018. "Determinants of the Performance of Microfinance Institutions: A Systematic Review," Research Report 2018008, University of Groningen, Research Institute SOM (Systems, Organisations and Management).

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