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A meta-analysis examining the nature of trade-offs in microfinance

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  • Patrick Reichert

Abstract

This meta-analysis reviews existing evidence on the ability of microfinance institutions (MFI) to achieve social and financial goals simultaneously. Through an initial screen of 3088 articles covering empirical tests on microfinance performance trade-offs, I synthesize 623 empirical findings from 61 studies to identify the dimensions of MFI performance, and study characteristics associated with trade-offs between financial and social objectives Overall, findings suggest that depth of outreach, cost of outreach, and efficiency indicators increase the prevalence of trade-offs, while risk indicators are associated with fewer trade-offs. Profitability indicators and outreach to women are found to have no significant effect on performance trade-offs. Additionally, study characteristics suggest that using an economic frontier methodology or publishing in development journals increases the incidence of trade-offs, while time trends reveal that trade-offs become less acute as the industry matures. Consequently, MFIs face difficult decisions in relation to the possibility that social goals need be sacrificed to achieve financial sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Patrick Reichert, 2018. "A meta-analysis examining the nature of trade-offs in microfinance," Oxford Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 46(3), pages 430-452, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:oxdevs:v:46:y:2018:i:3:p:430-452
    DOI: 10.1080/13600818.2018.1427223
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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. Eline Auwera & Bert D’Espallier & Roy Mersland, 2024. "Achieving Double Bottom-Line Performance in Hybrid Organisations: A Machine-Learning Approach," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 190(3), pages 625-647, March.
    3. Moez Bennouri & Anastasia Cozarenco & Samuel Anokye Nyarko, 2024. "Women on Boards and Performance Trade-offs in Social Enterprises: Insights from Microfinance," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 190(1), pages 165-198, February.
    4. Cozarenco, Anastasia & Szafarz, Ariane, 2020. "The regulation of prosocial lending: Are loan ceilings effective?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    5. Ahmad, Syedah & Lensink, Robert & Mueller, Annika, 2020. "The double bottom line of microfinance: A global comparison between conventional and Islamic microfinance," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    6. Wry, Tyler & Haugh, Helen, 2018. "Brace for impact: Uniting our diverse voices through a social impact frame," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 33(5), pages 566-574.
    7. Godfroid, Cécile & Otiti, Naome & Mersland, Roy, 2022. "Employee tenure and staff performance: The case of a social enterprise," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 457-467.
    8. Patrick Reichert & Marek Hudon & Ariane Szafarz & Robert K. Christensen, 2021. "Crowding-In or Crowding-Out? How Subsidies Signal the Path to Financial Independence of Social Enterprises," Working Papers CEB 21-014, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    9. Blanco-Oliver, A.J. & Irimia-Diéguez, A.I. & Vázquez-Cueto, M.J., 2023. "Is there an optimal microcredit size to maximize the social and financial efficiencies of microfinance institutions?," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    10. Mohamed, Toka S. & Elgammal, Mohammed M., 2023. "Credit risk in Islamic microfinance institutions: The role of women, groups, and rural borrowers," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    11. Simon Cornée & Ariane Szafarz, 2018. "How Costly is Social Screening? Evidence from the Banking Industry," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 38(1), pages 532-540.
    12. Anastasia Cozarenco & Valentina Hartarska & Ariane Szafarz, 2019. "Too Many Cooks Spoil the Broth: The Conflicting Impacts of Subsidies and Deposits on the Cost-Efficiency of Microfinance Institutions," Working Papers CEB 19-001, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    13. Maren Duvendack & Philip Mader, 2020. "Impact Of Financial Inclusion In Low‐ And Middle‐Income Countries: A Systematic Review Of Reviews," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(3), pages 594-629, July.
    14. 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.
    15. Hill, Daniel & Gregg, Daniel & Baker, Derek, 2025. "Trading off inclusion, value, and scale within smallholder targeted value chains," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    16. Bonin, Sandrine & Rashed, Tarek & Nair, Rajiv & Chaudhary, Seema & V.R., Bhanu & Natarajan, Amritha & Bhavani, Rao, 2024. "A financial maturity model for the empowerment of women’s saving groups," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 34(C).
    17. Sunil Puliyakot, 2020. "Determinants of overindebtedness among microfinance borrowers: a poverty line-based approach," Asia-Pacific Sustainable Development Journal, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), vol. 27(1), pages 20-41, June.
    18. De Pril, Julie & Godfroid, Cécile, 2020. "Avoiding the crowding-out of prosocial motivation in microfinance," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 108-117.
    19. 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).
    20. Tyler Wry & Eric Yanfei Zhao, 2018. "Taking Trade-offs Seriously: Examining the Contextually Contingent Relationship Between Social Outreach Intensity and Financial Sustainability in Global Microfinance," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 29(3), pages 507-528, June.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C12 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Hypothesis Testing: General
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • L25 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Performance
    • L31 - Industrial Organization - - Nonprofit Organizations and Public Enterprise - - - Nonprofit Institutions; NGOs; Social Entrepreneurship

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