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Microfinance and economic development

Author

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  • Cull,Robert J.
  • Morduch,Jonathan J.

Abstract

Microfinance is generally seen as a way to fix credit markets and unleash the productive capacities of poor people who are dependent on self-employment. The microfinance sector has grown quickly since the 1990s, paving the way for other forms of social enterprise and social investment. But recent evidence shows only modest average impacts on customers, generating a backlash against microfinance. This paper reconsiders the claims about microfinance, highlighting the diversity in evidence on impacts and the important (but limited) role of subsidies. The paper concludes by describing an evolution of thinking: from microfinance as narrowly construed entrepreneurial finance toward microfinance as broadly construed household finance. In this vision, microfinance yields benefits by providing liquidity for a wide range of needs rather than solely by boosting business income.

Suggested Citation

  • Cull,Robert J. & Morduch,Jonathan J., 2017. "Microfinance and economic development," Policy Research Working Paper Series 8252, The World Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:8252
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    Cited by:

    1. Rodriguez, Zachary, 2022. "The power of employment: Effects of India’s employment guarantee on women empowerment," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    2. N’Guessan, Marie Noëlle & Hartarska, Valentina, 2021. "Funding for BOP in Emerging Markets: Organizational Forms and Capital Structures of Microfinance Institutions," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).
    3. 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.
    4. Ngaruko, Deus D., 2022. "Transaction Costs of Group Microfinancing Models and their Effects on Family-Owned Business Performance in Tanzania," African Journal of Economic Review, African Journal of Economic Review, vol. 10(4), September.
    5. Francisco Jesús Gálvez-Sánchez & Juan Lara-Rubio & Antonio José Verdú-Jóver & Víctor Meseguer-Sánchez, 2021. "Research Advances on Financial Inclusion: A Bibliometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-19, March.
    6. Shymaa Bedaiwy & Dimity Peter, 2022. "An evaluation of Egyptian microfinance laws and regulations preventing overindebtedness of women," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(7), pages 1318-1333, October.
    7. Reboul, E. & Guérin, I. & Nordman, C.J., 2021. "The gender of debt and credit: Insights from rural Tamil Nadu," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    8. Mukendi, Suzan & Manda, Simon, 2022. "Micro-financial institutions and processes of women empowerment in Zambia," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 28(C).
    9. Gehrig, Stefan & Mesoudi, Alex & Lamba, Shakti, 2020. "Banking on cooperation: An evolutionary analysis of microfinance loan repayment behaviour," OSF Preprints tmpqj, Center for Open Science.
    10. Lody M. Bueri & Diana E. Schvarztein & Ignacio E. Carballo, 2019. "Retos de las microfinanzas en Argentina: nueva evidencia empírica en base a encuestas al sector nacional," Ensayos de Política Económica, Departamento de Investigación Francisco Valsecchi, Facultad de Ciencias Económicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina., vol. 3(1), pages 131-169, Octubre.
    11. Ahmad, Syedah & Lensink, Robert & Mueller, Annika, 2023. "Religion, social desirability bias and financial inclusion: Evidence from a list experiment on Islamic (micro-)finance," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 38(C).
    12. Cherry Wyle G. Layaoen & Kazushi Takahashi, 2022. "Can microfinance lending crowd out informal lenders? Evidence from the Philippines," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(2), pages 379-414, March.
    13. 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.
    14. Dean Karlan & Adam Osman & Jonathan Zinman, 2018. "Dangers of a Double-Bottom Line: A Poverty Targeting Experiment Misses Both Targets," NBER Working Papers 24379, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    15. Lucas Lopes Ferreira de Souza & Francesca Bassi & Ana Augusta Ferreira de Freitas, 2021. "Longitudinal analysis of microfinance borrowers in Brazil: A dynamic market segmentation," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(6), pages 1063-1083, August.
    16. Kuriakose, Francis & Joseph, Janssen, 2020. "Microfinance and Human Development in Kerala," MPRA Paper 98393, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    17. Bibiana K. Batinge & Hatice Jenkins, 2021. "Gender and Poverty Reduction in Ghana: The Role of Microfinance Institutions," International Journal of Economics and Finance, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 13(8), pages 1-71, August.
    18. Md Aslam Mia & Hasanul Banna & Abu Hanifa Md Noman & Md Rabiul Alam & Md. Sohel Rana, 2022. "Factors affecting borrowers’ turnover in microfinance institutions: A panel evidence," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 93(1), pages 55-84, March.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Inequality; Rural Microfinance and SMEs;

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