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The challenge of rural financial inclusion – evidence from microfinance

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  • Tania Lopez
  • Adalbert Winkler

Abstract

Financial inclusion is said to foster development and growth. However, progress in financial inclusion has been slow in rural areas where poverty is most pronounced. This is often attributed to higher transaction costs, higher risks and a more unfavourable contracting environment which makes it more difficult for financial institutions to achieve and maintain sustainability in rural compared to urban areas. Based on data covering 772 microfinance institutions (MFIs) over the period 2008–2013, we test whether rural financial inclusion, notably lending to rural borrowers, is hampered by stronger sustainability challenges than inclusion in urban markets. Our results suggest that a higher share of rural borrowers has no direct effect on MFI sustainability. However, we find that MFIs with a higher share of rural borrowers are less able to exploit economies of scale and productivity effects. Thus, our results provide support for the view that sustainability challenges make it more difficult to achieve progress in financial inclusion in rural than in urban areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Tania Lopez & Adalbert Winkler, 2018. "The challenge of rural financial inclusion – evidence from microfinance," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(14), pages 1555-1577, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:applec:v:50:y:2018:i:14:p:1555-1577
    DOI: 10.1080/00036846.2017.1368990
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    Cited by:

    1. Md Aslam Mia & Sunil Sangwan & A. H. M. Belayeth Hussain & Nurhafiza Abdul Kader Malim, 2022. "Rural–urban financial inclusion: Implications on the cost sustainability of microfinance lenders," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(6), pages 1899-1911, September.
    2. Saibal Ghosh, 2020. "Financial Inclusion in India: Does Distance Matter?," South Asia Economic Journal, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka, vol. 21(2), pages 216-238, September.
    3. Eduardo Rodrigues Sanguinet & Francisco de Borja García-García, 2023. "Rural-Urban Linkages: Regional Financial Business Services’ Integration into Chilean Agri-Food Value Chains," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-22, July.
    4. Ozili, Peterson K, 2022. "Financial inclusion washing," MPRA Paper 114337, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Chao, Xiangrui & Kou, Gang & Peng, Yi & Viedma, Enrique Herrera, 2021. "Large-scale group decision-making with non-cooperative behaviors and heterogeneous preferences: An application in financial inclusion," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 288(1), pages 271-293.
    6. Chenjing Zhang & Qiaoge Li & Di Mao & Mancang Wang, 2023. "Research on the Threshold Effect of Internet Development on Regional Inclusive Finance in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-20, April.
    7. Leif Atle Beisland & Kwame Ohene Djan & Roy Mersland & Trond Randøy, 2021. "Measuring Social Performance in Social Enterprises: A Global Study of Microfinance Institutions," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 171(1), pages 51-71, June.
    8. Hartarska, Valentina M. & Zhang, Jingfang & Nadolnyak, Denis A., 2023. "Scope Economies from Rural and Urban Microfinance Services," 2023 Annual Meeting, July 23-25, Washington D.C. 335439, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    9. Yan Liu & Quaner Wen & Abbas Ali Chandio & Long Chen & Lu Gan, 2022. "Investment Risk Analysis for Green and Sustainable Planning of Rural Family: A Case Study of Tibetan Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-19, September.
    10. Lee, Chien-Chiang & Wang, Chih-Wei & Ho, Shan-Ju, 2022. "Financial aid and financial inclusion: Does risk uncertainty matter?," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    11. Weidong Chen & Xiaohui Yuan, 2021. "Financial inclusion in China: an overview," Frontiers of Business Research in China, Springer, vol. 15(1), pages 1-21, December.
    12. Anh The Vo & Loan Thi-Hong Van & Duc Hong Vo & Michael Mcaleer, 2019. "Financial Inclusion And Macroeconomic Stability In Emerging And Frontier Markets," Annals of Financial Economics (AFE), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 14(02), pages 1-15, June.
    13. Valentina Hartarska & Jingfang Zhang & Denis A. Nadolnyak, 2023. "Scope economies from rural and urban microfinance services," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 89(4), pages 1138-1167, April.
    14. Marc Audi & Chan Bibi & Khalil Ahmad, 2019. "Financial Inclusion, Economic Growth and Human Well-Being Nexus: Empirics from Pakistan, India, China, Sri-Lanka, Bangladesh and Malaysia," Bulletin of Business and Economics (BBE), Research Foundation for Humanity (RFH), vol. 8(4), pages 177-190, December.
    15. Balana, Bedru & Oyeyemi, Motunrayo, 2021. "Credit Constraints and Adoption of Agricultural Technologies in Developing Countries? Evidence from Nigeria," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315347, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    16. Nyanzu, Frederick, 2022. "The joint effects of financial literacy and women’s empowerment training, and financial inclusion on food security: Evidence from Ghana," 2022 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Anaheim, California 322160, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    17. Md Aslam Mia, 2024. "Loyalty of rural microfinance borrowers: International evidence," Bulletin of Economic Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 76(1), pages 67-94, January.
    18. Marek Hudon & Marc Labie & Patrick Reichert, 2020. "What is a Fair Level of Profit for Social Enterprise? Insights from Microfinance," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 162(3), pages 627-644, March.
    19. Ali Raza & Guangji Tong & Vasilii Erokhin & Alexey Bobryshev & Lyubov Chaykovskaya & Natalya Malinovskaya, 2023. "Sustaining Performance of Wheat–Rice Farms in Pakistan: The Effects of Financial Literacy and Financial Inclusion," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-19, April.

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