IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v11y2019i21p5947-d280347.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Evaluating the Sustainability of Microfinance Institutions Considering Macro-Environmental Factors: A Cross-Country Study

Author

Listed:
  • Wei Xu

    (School of Business, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China)

  • Hongyong Fu

    (China Research Institute of Enterprise Governed by Law, Southwest University of Political Science and Law, Chongqing 401120, China)

  • Huanpeng Liu

    (School of Economic, Qufu Normal University, Rizhao 276825, China)

Abstract

Microfinance institutions (MFIs) have attracted great attention, due to their significant role in poverty reduction. Given the features of MFIs, this paper proposes a novel hybrid model of soft set theory, and an improved order preference by similarity to ideal solution (HMSIT) to evaluate the sustainability of MFIs, considering accounting ratios, corporate governance factors, and macro-environmental factors, from a cross-country perspective. This setting enables the examination of the role of macro-environmental factors in the sustainability of MFIs. For this purpose, soft set theory is adopted to select optimal criteria. An improved order preference by similarity to ideal solution method, in which the weight of each criterion is determined by soft set theory, is proposed to rank the sustainability of MFIs. This algorithm enables HMSIT to make full use of various types of information. The case study uses cross-country samples. Results indicate that macro-environmental factors are significant in evaluating the sustainability of MFIs from a cross-country perspective. Particularly, they can play a key role in distinguishing MFIs with low sustainability. The results also indicate that HMSIT has strong robustness. Ranked results, produced from the proposed HMSIT are reliable enough to provide some managerial suggestions for MFIs and help stakeholders make decisions.

Suggested Citation

  • Wei Xu & Hongyong Fu & Huanpeng Liu, 2019. "Evaluating the Sustainability of Microfinance Institutions Considering Macro-Environmental Factors: A Cross-Country Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-22, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:21:p:5947-:d:280347
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/21/5947/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/21/5947/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Shakil Quayes, 2012. "Depth of outreach and financial sustainability of microfinance institutions," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(26), pages 3421-3433, September.
    2. Marion Allet & Marek Hudon, 2015. "Green Microfinance: Characteristics of Microfinance Institutions Involved in Environmental Management," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 126(3), pages 395-414, February.
    3. Chrysa Leventi & Holly Sutherland & Iva Valentinova Tasseva, 2016. "Improving poverty reduction in Europe: what works (best) where?," ImPRovE Working Papers 16/16, Herman Deleeck Centre for Social Policy, University of Antwerp.
    4. Wei Xu & Yuchen Pan & Wenting Chen & Hongyong Fu, 2019. "Forecasting Corporate Failure in the Chinese Energy Sector: A Novel Integrated Model of Deep Learning and Support Vector Machine," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-20, June.
    5. Ahi, Payman & Searcy, Cory & Jaber, Mohamad Y., 2018. "A Quantitative Approach for Assessing Sustainability Performance of Corporations," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 336-346.
    6. Sefa Awaworyi Churchill, 2019. "The macroeconomy and microfinance outreach: a panel data analysis," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 51(21), pages 2266-2274, May.
    7. Bibi, Uzma & Balli, Hatice Ozer & Matthews, Claire D. & Tripe, David W.L., 2018. "New approaches to measure the social performance of microfinance institutions (MFIs)," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 88-97.
    8. Sefa Awaworyi Churchill, 2018. "Sustainability and depth of outreach: Evidence from microfinance institutions in sub‐Saharan Africa," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 36(S2), pages 676-695, September.
    9. Gonzalez, Adrian, 2007. "Resilience of Microfinance Institutions to National Macroeconomic Events: An Econometric Analysis of MFI asset quality," MPRA Paper 4317, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    10. Ahlin, Christian & Lin, Jocelyn & Maio, Michael, 2011. "Where does microfinance flourish? Microfinance institution performance in macroeconomic context," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(2), pages 105-120, July.
    11. Wijesiri, Mahinda & Yaron, Jacob & Meoli, Michele, 2017. "Assessing the financial and outreach efficiency of microfinance institutions: Do age and size matter?," Journal of Multinational Financial Management, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 63-76.
    12. Robert Cull & Asli Demirguç-Kunt & Jonathan Morduch, 2007. "Financial performance and outreach: a global analysis of leading microbanks," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 117(517), pages 107-133, February.
    13. Annabel Vanroose & Bert D’Espallier, 2013. "Do microfinance institutions accomplish their mission? Evidence from the relationship between traditional financial sector development and microfinance institutions’ outreach and performance," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 45(15), pages 1965-1982, May.
    14. Navajas, Sergio & Schreiner, Mark & Meyer, Richard L. & Gonzalez-vega, Claudio & Rodriguez-meza, Jorge, 2000. "Microcredit and the Poorest of the Poor: Theory and Evidence from Bolivia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 28(2), pages 333-346, February.
    15. Hongyong Fu & Kok Loy Teo & Yujie Li & Lei Wang, 2018. "Weather Risk–Reward Contract for Sustainable Agri-Food Supply Chain with Loss-Averse Farmer," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-25, December.
    16. Davide Forcella & Marek Hudon, 2016. "Green Microfinance in Europe," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 135(3), pages 445-459, May.
    17. Girma Jirata Duguma & Jiqin Han, 2018. "Effect of Deposit Mobilization on the Financial Sustainability of Rural Saving and Credit Cooperatives: Evidence from Ethiopia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-23, September.
    18. Disha Bhanot & Varadraj Bapat, 2015. "Sustainability index of micro finance institutions (MFIs) and contributory factors," International Journal of Social Economics, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 42(4), pages 387-403, April.
    19. Kuei-Hu Chang, 2019. "A novel supplier selection method that integrates the intuitionistic fuzzy weighted averaging method and a soft set with imprecise data," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 272(1), pages 139-157, January.
    20. 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, vol. 10(11), pages 1-16, October.
    21. Tadele, Haileslasie & Roberts, Helen & Whiting, Rosalind H., 2018. "Microfinance institutions' website accessibility," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 279-293.
    22. Julia Meyer, 2019. "Outreach and performance of microfinance institutions: the importance of portfolio yield," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 51(27), pages 2945-2962, June.
    23. Nawaz, Ahmad & Iqbal, Sana, 2015. "Financial Performance And Corporate Governance In Microfinance: Who Drives Who? An Evidence From Asia," MPRA Paper 65327, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    24. Liñares-Zegarra, José & Wilson, John O.S., 2018. "The size and growth of microfinance institutions," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 50(2), pages 199-213.
    25. Iqbal, Sana & Nawaz, Ahmad & Ehsan, Sadaf, 2019. "Financial performance and corporate governance in microfinance: Evidence from Asia," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 1-13.
    26. Stefan Schaltegger & Roger Burritt, 2018. "Business Cases and Corporate Engagement with Sustainability: Differentiating Ethical Motivations," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 147(2), pages 241-259, January.
    27. Caserta, Maurizio & Monteleone, Simona & Reito, Francesco, 2018. "The trade-off between profitability and outreach in microfinance," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 31-41.
    28. Md Aslam Mia & Miao Zhang & Cheng Zhang & Yoomi Kim, 2018. "Are microfinance institutions in South-East Asia pursuing objectives of greening the environment?," Journal of the Asia Pacific Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(2), pages 229-245, April.
    29. Mira Nurmakhanova & Gavin Kretzschmar & Hassouna Fedhila, 2015. "Trade-off between financial sustainability and outreach of microfinance institutions," Eurasian Economic Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 5(2), pages 231-250, December.
    30. Tauhidul Islam Tanin & Mohammad Ashraful Mobin & Adam Ng & Ginanjar Dewandaru & Kinan Salim & Malik Abdulrahman Nkoba & Lutfi Abdul Razak, 2019. "How does microfinance prosper? An analysis of environmental, social, and governance context," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(6), pages 1001-1022, November.
    31. Ines Ben Abdelkader & Faysal Mansouri, 2018. "Performance of microfinance institutions in the MENA region: a comparative analysis," International Journal of Social Economics, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 46(1), pages 47-65, August.
    32. Bernd Reiter & James Atta Peprah, 2015. "Assessing African Microfinance: An Exploratory Case Study of Ghana's Central Region," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(7), pages 1337-1342, October.
    33. Isabel Sainz‐Fernandez & Begoña Torre‐Olmo & Carlos López‐Gutiérrez & Sergio Sanfilippo‐Azofra, 2015. "Crisis in Microfinance Institutions: Identifying Problems," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(7), pages 1058-1073, October.
    34. Tyler Beck Goodspeed, 2018. "Environmental Shocks and Sustainability in Microfinance: Evidence from the Great Famine of Ireland," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 32(2), pages 456-481.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Youtang Zhang & Eshetu Yesuf Ayele, 2022. "Factors Affecting Small and Micro Enterprise Performance with the Mediating Effect of Government Support: Evidence from the Amhara Region Ethiopia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-20, June.
    2. Amidou Ayinla Akangbe Fadikpe & Richard Danquah & Mohammed Aidoo & Dejene Adugna Chomen & Richard Yankey & Xie Dongmei, 2022. "Linkages between social and financial performance: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa microfinance institutions," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(3), pages 1-23, March.
    3. Emilio M. Santandreu & Joaquín López Pascual & Salvador Cruz Rambaud, 2020. "Determinants of Repayment among Male and Female Microcredit Clients in the USA. An Approach Based on Managers’ Perceptions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-17, February.
    4. Bo Song & Jing Zhao & Panpan Zhang, 2022. "A Study on Factors Influencing the Efficiency of Rural Agriculture Financial Support in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-13, November.
    5. 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.
    6. Ainan Memon & Waqar Akram & Ghulam Abbas & Abbas Ali Chandio & Sultan Adeel & Iram Yasmin, 2022. "Financial Sustainability of Microfinance Institutions and Macroeconomic Factors: A Case of South Asia," South Asian Journal of Macroeconomics and Public Finance, , vol. 11(1), pages 116-142, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. 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.
    2. 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).
    3. Md. Ali Rasel & Sandar Win, 2020. "Microfinance governance: a systematic review and future research directions," Journal of Economic Studies, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 47(7), pages 1811-1847, April.
    4. Farah NAZ & Sarah SALIM & Ramiz ur REHMAN & Muhammad Ishfaq AHMAD & Rizwan ALI, 2019. "Determinants of financial sustainability of microfinance institutions in Pakistan," Upravlenets, Ural State University of Economics, vol. 10(4), pages 51-64, September.
    5. Lucia Dalla Pellegrina & Damla Diriker & Paolo Landoni & Davide Moro & Mahinda Wijesiri, 2024. "Financial and social sustainability in the European microfinance sector," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 63(3), pages 1249-1292, October.
    6. Sefa Awaworyi Churchill & Jeffrey Korankye Danso & Elikem Nyatefe, 2018. "Microfinance Institution Performance: Does the Macroeconomy Matter?," Economic Papers, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 37(4), pages 429-442, December.
    7. Sefa Awaworyi Churchill, 2020. "Microfinance financial sustainability and outreach: is there a trade-off?," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 59(3), pages 1329-1350, September.
    8. Md Aslam Mia & Lucia Dalla Pellegrina & Patrick Damme & Mahinda Wijesiri, 2019. "Financial Inclusion, Deepening and Efficiency in Microfinance Programs: Evidence from Bangladesh," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 31(4), pages 809-835, September.
    9. Xu, Shufang & Zhu, Ning & Copestake, James & Cai, Guiming & Peng, Xinman, 2024. "Is there a trade-off between MFls' financial efficiency and outreach in macroeconomic and institutional context?," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    10. Banto, Jean Michel & Monsia, Atokê Fredia, 2021. "Microfinance institutions, banking, growth and transmission channel: A GMM panel data analysis from developing countries," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 126-150.
    11. Solomon Bizuayehu Wassie & Hitoshi Kusakari & Masahiro Sumimoto, 2019. "Performance of Microfinance Institutions in Ethiopia: Integrating Financial and Social Metrics," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 8(4), pages 1-13, April.
    12. Md Aslam Mia & Lucia Dalla Pellegrina & Cheng Zhang & Sunil Sangwan, 2022. "Efficiency Wage and Productivity in the Indian Microfinance Industry: A Panel Evidence," IIM Kozhikode Society & Management Review, , vol. 11(2), pages 235-252, July.
    13. 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.
    14. 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.
    15. Widiarto, Indra & Emrouznejad, Ali, 2015. "Social and financial efficiency of Islamic microfinance institutions: A Data Envelopment Analysis application," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 1-17.
    16. Sandra, Kendo & Chicot, Eboue, 2016. "Microfinance institutional growth: How driven forces impact their financial integration?," MPRA Paper 70225, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    17. Hailu Abebe Wondirad, 2020. "Competition and microfinance institutions’ performance: evidence from India," International Journal of Corporate Social Responsibility, Springer, vol. 5(1), pages 1-19, December.
    18. 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.
    19. 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.
    20. Kendo, Sandra & Tchakounte, Josephine, 2022. "The drivers of the financial integration of microfinance Institutions: Do financial development, agency costs and microfinance performance matter?," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 128-142.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:21:p:5947-:d:280347. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.