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Commercialization and the Decline of Joint Liability Microcredit

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  • Fetzer, Thiemo

    (Department of Economics, University of Warwick)

Abstract

Numerous authors point to a decline in joint liability microcredit, and rise in individual liability lending. But empirical evidence is lacking, and there have been no rigorous analyses of possible causes. We first show using the well-known MIX Market dataset that there is evidence for a decline. Second, we show theoretically that commercialization–an increase in competition and a shift from non-profit to for-profit lending (both of which are present in the data)–drives lenders to reduce their use of joint liability loan contracts. Third, we test the model’s key predictions, and find support for them in the data.

Suggested Citation

  • Fetzer, Thiemo, 2016. "Commercialization and the Decline of Joint Liability Microcredit," The Warwick Economics Research Paper Series (TWERPS) 1119, University of Warwick, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:wrk:warwec:1119
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    2. Suesse, Marvin & Wolf, Nikolaus, 2020. "Rural transformation, inequality, and the origins of microfinance," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    3. Franklin Allen & Elena Carletti & Robert Cull & Jun QJ Qian & Lemma Senbet & Patricio Valenzuela, 2021. "Improving Access to Banking: Evidence from Kenya [A matter of experience? Understanding the decline in group lending]," Review of Finance, European Finance Association, vol. 25(2), pages 403-447.
    4. Ahlin, Christian & Debrah, Godwin, 2022. "Group lending with covariate risk," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 157(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. Dhami, Sanjit & Arshad, Junaid & al-Nowaihi, Ali, 2022. "Psychological and social motivations in microfinance contracts: Theory and evidence," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    7. Pignatel, Isabelle & Tchakoute Tchuigoua, Hubert, 2020. "Microfinance institutions and International Financial Reporting Standards: An exploratory analysis," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    8. 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.
    9. Nicholas Sabin, 2023. "Choosing partners: selection priorities of joint liability group leaders," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 64(1), pages 323-348, January.
    10. Hubert Tchakoute Tchuigoua, 2021. "Proximity‐based screening tools and credit rationing: Lessons from a Cameroonian greenfield microfinance institution," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 33(3), pages 506-517, September.
    11. Al-Azzam, Moh'd & Mimouni, Karim & Smaoui, Houcem & Temimi, Akram, 2022. "Subsidies vs. deposits and cost inefficiency in microfinance," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 212-235.
    12. Bardsley, Peter & Meager, Rachael, 2019. "Competing lending platforms, endogenous reputation, and fragility in microcredit markets," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 107-126.
    13. Christoph Sommer, 2022. "Unintended consequences of microfinance: Effects on credit access for small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(3), pages 564-586, April.
    14. Hessou, Hélyoth T.S. & Lensink, Robert & Soumaré, Issouf & Tchakoute Tchuigoua, Hubert, 2021. "Provisioning over the business cycle: Some insights from the microfinance industry," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    15. Ralph De Haas & Matteo Millone & Jaap Bos, 2021. "Information Sharing in a Competitive Microcredit Market," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 53(7), pages 1677-1717, October.
    16. Christian Ahlin, 2020. "Group lending, matching patterns, and the mystery of microcredit: Evidence from Thailand," Quantitative Economics, Econometric Society, vol. 11(2), pages 713-759, May.
    17. Gelade, Wouter & Guirkinger, Catherine, 2018. "The enforcement advantage of external monitoring: Lessons from an experiment with joint-liability groups in Burkina Faso," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 307-325.
    18. Magloire Nya Tchatchoua & Isabelle Pignatel & Hubert Tchakoute Tchuigoua, 2019. "What type of microfinance institutions comply with International Financial Reporting Standards?," Working Papers CEB 19-012, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    19. Karaivanov, Alexander & Xing, Xiaochuan & Xue, Yi, 2020. "Bogus joint liability groups in microfinance," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).
    20. Altınok, Ahmet, 2023. "Group lending, sorting, and risk sharing," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 456-480.
    21. Moh’d Al-Azzam & Christopher Parmeter, 2021. "Competition and microcredit interest rates: international evidence," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 60(2), pages 829-868, February.
    22. Arzi Adbi, 2023. "Financial Sustainability of For-Profit Versus Non-Profit Microfinance Organizations Following a Scandal," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 188(1), pages 57-74, November.
    23. Soumaré, Issouf & Tchakoute Tchuigoua, Hubert & Hessou, Hélyoth T.S., 2020. "Are microfinance institutions resilient to economic slowdown? Evidence from their capital ratio adjustment over the business cycle," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 1-22.
    24. 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.
    25. Tchakoute Tchuigoua, Hubert & Soumaré, Issouf & Hessou, Hélyoth T.S., 2020. "Lending and business cycle: Evidence from microfinance institutions," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 1-12.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    microfinance; joint liability; commercialization; market structure;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O16 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Financial Markets; Saving and Capital Investment; Corporate Finance and Governance

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