The Experts below are selected from a list of 35181 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Frederick J. Riggins - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Exploring the Impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on Intermediation Market Structure in the Microfinance Industry
2016Co-Authors: Frederick J. Riggins, David WeberAbstract:The Microfinance industry provides financial services to the world’s poor in hopes of moving individuals and families out of poverty. In 2013 there were 4.7 million active Microfinance borrowers in Africa. This represents a smaller percentage of the population compared to other regions of the world, indicating the potential for rapid growth of Microfinance in Africa. However, Microfinance is maturing in part due to the adoption of information and communication technologies (ICTs). This research examines how ICTs are changing the Microfinance industry given recent advancements in mobile banking, Internet usage, and connectivity. By examining the Microfinance market structure, we determine that ICTs impact intermediation and market structure among various players in the Microfinance industry. We use recent industry risk reports from 2011 through 2014 to inform our predictions of changes to the intermediation structure of the industry. We give particular attention to the impact of ICT on Microfinance in Africa.
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Information and communication technology and the sustainability of Microfinance
Electronic Commerce Research and Applications, 2012Co-Authors: Robert J Kauffman, Frederick J. RigginsAbstract:Information and communication technology (ICT) is an important driver in the maturing Microfinance industry. Microfinance providers, both non-profit Microfinance institutions (MFIs) and for-profit banks, provide financial services to the poor that are critical for eradicating poverty and promoting economic development in developing nations. As the industry matures, MFIs face an increasingly competitive environment forcing them to balance the dual goals of outreach and sustainability. Interestingly, ICT may be both the instigator of this new environment and the potential solution to MFI survivability. We propose research directions on the role and impact of ICT in the Microfinance industry, with special attention given to the industry's stakeholders and to the value chain of microfinancial services that are provided to the poor people in the world who need access to them. This research is at the intersection of inquiry on ICT for development and the digital divide, the impact of Microfinance on poverty and development, and the use of information technology (IT) in the financial services industry. It is aimed at encouraging new research that explores important issues with respect to Microfinance services to open up a dialogue and debate among interested academic researchers, Microfinance institution leaders, and public policy-makers. We discuss the role and impact of ICT at the customer level, the Microfinance institutional level, the donor level, and the Microfinance industry level, with insights that showcase the value chain impacts and transformations that are occurring as a basis for assessing the extent to which ICT supports the sustainability of Microfinance.
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HICSS - Research Directions on the Role and Impact of ICT in Microfinance
2010 43rd Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, 2010Co-Authors: Robert J Kauffman, Frederick J. RigginsAbstract:Information and communication technology (ICT) is an important driver in the Microfinance industry. Microfinance providers, both non-profit Microfinance institutions (MFIs) and for-profit banks, provide financial services to the poor, and are critical for economic development in developing nations. As the industry matures, MFIs face a competitive environment, forcing them to balance the goals of outreach and sustainability. ICT may be the instigator of this new environment and the potential solution to MFI survivability. We propose research directions on the role and impact of ICT in the Microfinance industry, using a Microfinance technology and stakeholder ecosystem framework. This research is at the intersection of inquiry on ICT for development and the digital divide, the impact of Microfinance, and the use of ICT in the financial services industry. We discuss the role and impact of ICT at the customer, the Microfinance institution, donor, and industry levels.
Jack J Barry - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Microfinance the market and political development in the internet age
Third World Quarterly, 2012Co-Authors: Jack J BarryAbstract:Abstract This article steps outside traditional economic analysis of Microfinance, and instead investigates the political ramifications of Microfinance in developing countries. In particular, I argue that Microfinance affects social capital, political empowerment and democratisation. I examine three emerging trends in Microfinance: new technology; the rise of for-profit Microfinance institutions; and the increase in individual, rather than group Microfinance lending. In exploring these trends, I analyse seven prominent institutions: non-profits Kiva, Global Giving, Calvert Organization and MicroCredit Enterprises; and for-profits MicroPlace, MicroVest, and Oikocredit. My findings indicate that different types of Microfinance institutions have unique characteristics that influence political development in a variety of ways, including but not limited to: democratisation, social capital, and economic and political empowerment. The article attempts to fill a gap in the literature and open up a conversation as...
Frank G. Sackey - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Microfinance and credit rationing: does the Microfinance type matter?
Journal of Sustainable Finance & Investment, 2017Co-Authors: Luis Diaz-serrano, Frank G. SackeyAbstract:This study sets out to examine the extent to which access to credit and credit rationing are influenced by the Microfinance type based on the major factors determining micro, small and medium enterprises’ access to credit from Microfinance institutions in the era of financial liberalization. The data for the study were gleaned from the Microfinance companies’ credit and loan records consisting of the various pieces of information provided by the borrowers in the application process. Our results are puzzling and show that credit rationing is not influenced by the Microfinance types but by the individual Microfinance companies. Our results also show that the Government Microfinance company is the least severe in the rationing behavior.
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Is Rationing in the Microfinance Sector Determined by the Microfinance Type? Evidence from Ghana
2015Co-Authors: Luis Diaz-serrano, Frank G. SackeyAbstract:This study sets out to examine the extent to which access to credit and credit rationing are influenced by the Microfinance type based on the major factors determining micro, small and medium enterprises' access to credit from Microfinance institutions in the era of financial liberalization. The data for the study were gleaned from fourteen Microfinance institutions' credit and loan records consisting of borrowers and credit characteristics. Our results are puzzling and show that credit rationing is not influenced by the Microfinance types but by the individual Microfinance institutions.
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Microfinance and credit rationing in Ghana: Does the Microfinance type matter?
2015Co-Authors: Lluís Díaz Serrano, Frank G. SackeyAbstract:This study sets out to examine the extent to which access to credit and credit rationing are influenced by the Microfinance type based on the major factors determining micro, small and medium enterprises’ access to credit from Microfinance institutions in the era of financial liberalization. The data for the study were gleaned from the Microfinance institutions’ credit and loan records consisting of the various pieces of information provided by the borrowers in the application process. Our results are puzzling and show that credit rationing is not influenced by the Microfinance types but by the individual Microfinance institutions. Keywords: Microfinance, Ghana, Credit Rationing. JEL codes: G21
Robert J Kauffman - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Information and communication technology and the sustainability of Microfinance
Electronic Commerce Research and Applications, 2012Co-Authors: Robert J Kauffman, Frederick J. RigginsAbstract:Information and communication technology (ICT) is an important driver in the maturing Microfinance industry. Microfinance providers, both non-profit Microfinance institutions (MFIs) and for-profit banks, provide financial services to the poor that are critical for eradicating poverty and promoting economic development in developing nations. As the industry matures, MFIs face an increasingly competitive environment forcing them to balance the dual goals of outreach and sustainability. Interestingly, ICT may be both the instigator of this new environment and the potential solution to MFI survivability. We propose research directions on the role and impact of ICT in the Microfinance industry, with special attention given to the industry's stakeholders and to the value chain of microfinancial services that are provided to the poor people in the world who need access to them. This research is at the intersection of inquiry on ICT for development and the digital divide, the impact of Microfinance on poverty and development, and the use of information technology (IT) in the financial services industry. It is aimed at encouraging new research that explores important issues with respect to Microfinance services to open up a dialogue and debate among interested academic researchers, Microfinance institution leaders, and public policy-makers. We discuss the role and impact of ICT at the customer level, the Microfinance institutional level, the donor level, and the Microfinance industry level, with insights that showcase the value chain impacts and transformations that are occurring as a basis for assessing the extent to which ICT supports the sustainability of Microfinance.
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HICSS - Research Directions on the Role and Impact of ICT in Microfinance
2010 43rd Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, 2010Co-Authors: Robert J Kauffman, Frederick J. RigginsAbstract:Information and communication technology (ICT) is an important driver in the Microfinance industry. Microfinance providers, both non-profit Microfinance institutions (MFIs) and for-profit banks, provide financial services to the poor, and are critical for economic development in developing nations. As the industry matures, MFIs face a competitive environment, forcing them to balance the goals of outreach and sustainability. ICT may be the instigator of this new environment and the potential solution to MFI survivability. We propose research directions on the role and impact of ICT in the Microfinance industry, using a Microfinance technology and stakeholder ecosystem framework. This research is at the intersection of inquiry on ICT for development and the digital divide, the impact of Microfinance, and the use of ICT in the financial services industry. We discuss the role and impact of ICT at the customer, the Microfinance institution, donor, and industry levels.
Sergio Navajas - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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A New Index of the Business Environment for Microfinance - A New Index of the Business Environment for Microfinance
World Development, 2015Co-Authors: Robert Cull, Sergio Navajas, Ippei Nishida, Renate ZeilerAbstract:This paper describes a new index of the quality of the business environment for Microfinance institutions (the Global Microscope on the Microfinance Business Environment). Regressions are used to validate the index by linking it and its subcomponents to Microfinance outcomes. The main findings are that the components of the index related to the supporting institutional framework are strongly linked to measures of Microfinance penetration (such as Microfinance borrowers as a share of total population). Components related to the framework for regulation and supervision are more strongly linked to outcomes at the Microfinance institution level, including loan portfolio quality, financial self-sufficiency, average loan size, and the share of lending to women. Many, but not all, of these relationships are robust to using instrumental variables estimation in which a country's general stringency with respect to financial regulation is used as an instrument for the index and its components.
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Apex Organizations and the Growth of Microfinance in Bolivia
Development and Comp Systems, 2001Co-Authors: Sergio Navajas, Mark SchreinerAbstract:Bolivia has the most advanced Microfinance sector in Latin America and has been a model worldwide. Apex organizations--second-tier wholesaling mechanisms that lend and offer non- financial assistance to retailing Microfinance organizations--have not been responsible for this success. Former and current Bolivian apex organizations have engaged in little market development. Some have provided some liquidity to Microfinance organizations, but they have not played an indispensable role in the development of the sector. Other mechanisms for the delivery of donor aid have been more effective in strengthening the best Bolivian Microfinance organizations. There appears, therefore, to be no justification for various apex organizations planned for the future. These mechanisms may actually discourage deposit mobilization and if they would disburse funds to un-sustainable Microfinance organizations, they may create an unfair playing field. This paper examines the role of apex organizations in the development of Microfinance in Bolivia in two sections. The first one discusses demand and supply in the market for Microfinance, the regulatory framework for the sector, and the nature of constraints on sustainable Microfinance in this country. The second one evaluates the poor performance of a number of public-sector apex mechanisms and the predicament of one non-government apex organization. It also discusses options for the future.
