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The interest rates and performance of MFIs in the MENA region: is there a moral issue?

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  • Philippe Adair

    (ERUDITE - Equipe de Recherche sur l’Utilisation des Données Individuelles en lien avec la Théorie Economique - UPEM - Université Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallée - UPEC UP12 - Université Paris-Est Créteil Val-de-Marne - Paris 12)

  • Imène Berguiga

Abstract

The high interest rates of microfinance institutions (MFIs) seem to oppose their social mission, and raise a moral issue. We analyse the determinants of the level of interest rates with regard to the financial performance of an unbalanced panel of 66 MFIs in nine countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region over the period 2004-2012. We differentiate internal factors (cost of capital, operating expenses and loss provisions) from the external ones (regulation, competition and inflation).The outcomes of a typology from a multivariate analysis upon the relationship between the interest rate and social performance of 53 MFIs in 2008 do not match the classification of MFIs according to Yunus and Weber, which proves irrelevant.

Suggested Citation

  • Philippe Adair & Imène Berguiga, 2015. "The interest rates and performance of MFIs in the MENA region: is there a moral issue?," Post-Print hal-01667342, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-01667342
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-01667342
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    6. Marek Hudon, 2007. "Fair interest rates when lending to the poor," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/14204, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    7. Pablo Cotler & Deyanira Almazan, 2010. "The Lending Interest Rates in the Microfinance Sector: Searching for its Determinants," Working Papers 0110, Universidad Iberoamericana, Department of Economics.
    8. Philippe Adair & Imene Berguiga, 2014. "How do social performance and financial performance of microfinance institutions interact: A panel data study upon the MENA region (1998-2011)," Post-Print hal-01667328, HAL.
    9. Esubalew Assefa & Niels Hermes & Aljar Meesters, 2013. "Competition and the performance of microfinance institutions," Applied Financial Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(9), pages 767-782, May.
    10. Angelini, Paolo & Cetorelli, Nicola, 2003. "The Effects of Regulatory Reform on Competition in the Banking Industry," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 35(5), pages 663-684, October.
    11. Joanna Ledgerwood, 1998. "Microfinance Handbook: An Institutional and Financial Perspective," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 12383, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Philippe Adair & Imène Berguiga, 2021. "A survey on funding MSMEs and female entrepreneurs in MENA countries and the microfinance issue," Erudite Working Paper 2021-12, Erudite.
    2. Philippe Adair & Imene Berguiga, 2017. "What Determines Premium of MFIs in the Mena Region? A Panel Data Analysis (2004- 2014)," Post-Print hal-01667346, HAL.
    3. I. Berguiga & Y.Ben Said & P. Adair, 2020. "The Social and Financial Performance of Microfinance Institutions in the Middle East and North Africa Region: Do Islamic Institutions Outperform Conventional Institutions?," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(7), pages 1075-1100, October.
    4. Imène Berguiga & Yosra Said & Philippe Adair, 2017. "The social and financial performance of Microfinance institutions in the MENA region: Do Islamic institutions perform better?," Post-Print hal-01667406, HAL.

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