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Green Microfinance. Characteristics of microfinance institutions involved in environmental management

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  • Marion Allet
  • Marek Hudon

Abstract

In recent years, development practice has seen that microfinance institutions (MFIs), beyond their financial and social objectives, start considering their environmental bottom line. Yet, little is known on the characteristics of institutions involved in environmental management. For the first time, this paper empirically identifies the characteristics of these ‘green’ MFIs on a sample of 160 microfinance institutions worldwide. Basing our analysis on various econometric tests, we find that larger MFIs and MFIs registered as banks tend to perform better in environmental policy and environmental risk assessment. Furthermore, more mature MFIs tend to have a better environmental performance, in particular in the provision of green microcredit and environmental non-financial services. On the other hand, financial performance is not significantly related to environmental performance, suggesting that ‘green’ MFIs are not more or less profitable than other microfinance institutions.

Suggested Citation

  • Marion Allet & Marek Hudon, 2013. "Green Microfinance. Characteristics of microfinance institutions involved in environmental management," Working Papers CEB 13-005, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    • Handle: RePEc:sol:wpaper:2013/138434
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    Cited by:

    1. Davide Forcella & Marek Hudon, 2016. "Green Microfinance in Europe," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 135(3), pages 445-459, May.
    2. Simon Cornée & Ariane Szafarz, 2014. "Vive la Différence: Social Banks and Reciprocity in the Credit Market," Post-Print CEB, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles, vol. 125(3), pages 361-380.
    3. Moser, Rafael Magnus Barbosa & Gonzalez, Lauro, 2016. "Green microfiance: a new frontier to inclusive financial service," RAE - Revista de Administração de Empresas, FGV-EAESP Escola de Administração de Empresas de São Paulo (Brazil), vol. 56(2), March.
    4. Lauren Kleynjans & Marek Hudon, 2016. "A Study of Codes of Ethics for Mexican Microfinance Institutions," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 134(3), pages 397-412, March.
    5. 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.
    6. Lucky Nugroho & Wiwik Utami & Taufik Akbar & Willy Arafah, 2017. "The Challenges of Microfinance Institutions in Empowering Micro and Small Entrepreneur to Implementating Green Activity," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 7(3), pages 66-73.
    7. Labie, Marc & Méon, Pierre-Guillaume & Mersland, Roy & Szafarz, Ariane, 2015. "Discrimination by microcredit officers: Theory and evidence on disability in Uganda," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 44-55.
    8. Marion Allet, 2014. "Why Do Microfinance Institutions Go Green? An Exploratory Study," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 122(3), pages 405-424, July.
    9. 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.
    10. Dawood Ashraf & Muhammad Suhail Rizwan & Barbara L’Huillier, 2022. "Environmental, social, and governance integration: the case of microfinance institutions," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 62(1), pages 837-891, March.
    11. Rafael Moser & Davide Forcella & Lauro Emilio Gonzales Farias, 2016. "Microfinance and climate change: threats and opportunities, the case of Brazil’s largest rural MFIs, Agroamigo and Cresol," Working Papers CEB 16-010, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    12. Like Soegiono & Apriani Dorkas Rambu Atahau & Harijono & Andrian Dolfriandra Huruta, 2019. "Local wisdom in rural microfinance: a descriptive study on villagers of East Sumba," Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues, VsI Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Center, vol. 6(3), pages 1485-1496, March.
    13. 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.
    14. Mashura Shammi & Nazmul Hasan & Md. Mostafizur Rahman & Kohinoor Begum & Md. Tajuddin Sikder & Mohammad Hossain Bhuiyan & Md. Khabir Uddin, 2017. "Sustainable pesticide governance in Bangladesh: socio-economic and legal status interlinking environment, occupational health and food safety," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 37(3), pages 243-260, September.
    15. Md. Ali Rasel & Sandar Win, 2020. "Microfinance governance: a systematic review and future research directions," Journal of Economic Studies, Emerald Group Publishing, vol. 47(7), pages 1811-1847, April.
    16. Dilruba Khanam & Muhammad Mohiuddin & Asadul Hoque & Olaf Weber, 2018. "Financing micro-entrepreneurs for poverty alleviation: a performance analysis of microfinance services offered by BRAC, ASA, and Proshika from Bangladesh," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, Springer;UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship, vol. 8(1), pages 1-17, December.
    17. Jiali Jenna Tang & Shakil Quayes & George Joseph, 2020. "Microfinance institutions, financial intermediation and the role of deposits," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 60(2), pages 1635-1672, June.
    18. Shixian Ling & Guosheng Han & Dong An & William Cannon Hunter & Hui Li, 2020. "The Impact of Green Credit Policy on Technological Innovation of Firms in Pollution-Intensive Industries: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-16, June.
    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. Gregor Dorfleitner & Davide Forcella & Quynh Anh Nguyen, 2021. "Why microfinance institutions go digital: An empirical analysis," Working Papers CEB 21-003, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    21. Yaowei Cao & Youtang Zhang & Liu Yang & Rita Yi Man Li & M. James C. Crabbe, 2021. "Green Credit Policy and Maturity Mismatch Risk in Polluting and Non-Polluting Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-23, March.
    22. Moser, Rafael Magnus Barbosa & Gonzalez, Lauro, 2015. "Microfinanças e impactos das mudanças climáticas: o caso do Agroamigo no Brasil," RAE - Revista de Administração de Empresas, FGV-EAESP Escola de Administração de Empresas de São Paulo (Brazil), vol. 55(4), July.
    23. Tzu-Kuan Chiu, 2017. "Factors Influencing Microfinance Engagements by Formal Financial Institutions," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 143(3), pages 565-587, July.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Microfinance; Environment; Microcredit; Corporate Social Responsibility; Size; Financial Performance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • D20 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - General
    • Q01 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - General - - - Sustainable Development
    • Q56 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth

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