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Is there a Market for Microlending in Industrialized Countries?

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Listed:
  • Kritikos, Alexander S.
  • Kneiding, Christoph
  • Germelmann, Claas Christian

Abstract

While in less developed and in transition economies microlending has become an efficient instrument for providing small and micro businesses with the necessary financial means, in industrialized countries, with highly developed banking systems, the existence and size of an uncovered demand for microlending services has been controversially discussed. This study explores the inclination towards microlending products, with information drawn from 213 interviews conducted with German small and micro-business owners in 2005. Among the interviewed entrepreneurs, 15% report revolving funding needs and state that they are interested in microloans. Characteristic target group members are retail business owners, foreign small business owners, and persons having previously received private loans. Therefore, lenders entering the market should address this group using a focused market entry strategy. Key product features are a speedy access to short term loans combined with personal contact to the loan officer who should be able to thoroughly understand the client's business concept. Finally, it is also remarkable that 65% of the surveyed persons financed their first three years' operations without having asked for any loan product, at all. Among these, there might be a hidden demand which could be unleashed by designing novel microlending products.

Suggested Citation

  • Kritikos, Alexander S. & Kneiding, Christoph & Germelmann, Claas Christian, 2006. "Is there a Market for Microlending in Industrialized Countries?," Discussion Papers 251, European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder), Department of Business Administration and Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:euvwdp:251
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Howard E. Van Auken & Lynn Neeley, 1996. "Evidence of Bootstrap Financing among Small Start-Up Firms," Journal of Entrepreneurial Finance, Pepperdine University, Graziadio School of Business and Management, vol. 5(3), pages 235-249, Fall.
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    Cited by:

    1. Agnès Labye, 2009. "Microfinance professionnelle et banques universelles : la singularité du cas de l’Allemagne," Revue d'Économie Financière, Programme National Persée, vol. 95(2), pages 351-365.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Microlending; Small Business Finance; Market Research;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • M31 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Marketing and Advertising - - - Marketing

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