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Microfinance and Social Investment

Author

Listed:
  • Jonathan Conning

    (Hunter College and The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York 10065)

  • Jonathan Morduch

    (Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and the Financial Access Initiative, New York University, New York 10012)

Abstract

This review puts a corporate finance lens on microfinance. Microfinance aims to democratize global financial markets through new contracts, organizations, and technology. We explain the roles that government agencies and socially minded investors play in supporting the entry and expansion of private intermediaries in the sector, and we disentangle debates about competing social and commercial firm goals. We frame the analysis with theory that explains why microfinance institutions serving lower-income communities charge high interest rates, face high costs, monitor customers relatively intensively, and have limited ability to lever assets. The analysis blurs traditional dividing lines between nonprofits and for-profits and places focus on the relationship between target market, ownership rights, and access to external capital.

Suggested Citation

  • Jonathan Conning & Jonathan Morduch, 2011. "Microfinance and Social Investment," Annual Review of Financial Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 3(1), pages 407-434, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:anr:refeco:v:3:y:2011:p:407-434
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    File URL: http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev-financial-102710-144909
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Bátiz-Zuk Enrique & González-Holden Alexa, 2023. "Identifying Gender Disparities on the Time to Repay Microfinance Group Loans: Evidence from Mexico," Working Papers 2023-07, Banco de México.
    2. Jiguang Wang & Bing Ran, 2019. "Balancing Paradoxical Missions: How Does Microfinance Rebuild a Sustainable Path in Poverty Alleviation?," SAGE Open, , vol. 9(2), pages 21582440198, June.
    3. AGAÏ, Oniankitan Gregoire, 2012. "Assessing the Viability of a Rural Microfinance Network : The Case of FONGS FINRURAL," MPRA Paper 47176, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Jayashankar, Priyanka & Ashta, Arvind & Rasmussen, Mark, 2015. "Slow money in an age of fiduciary capitalism," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 322-329.
    5. Abrego, Adriana & Guizar, Isai, 2017. "Resilience of Agricultural Microfinance Institutions to Rainfall Shocks," 2017 Annual Meeting, July 30-August 1, Chicago, Illinois 258031, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    6. Ian Carrillo, 2013. "The successes and challenges of microfinance," Chapters, in: Gary Paul Green (ed.), Handbook of Rural Development, chapter 11, pages i-ii, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    7. Ismaira Contreras & Alicia Gómez, 2013. "Impact on the financial variables of the borrowers of AVANZAR in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Period 2000-2012," Economía, Instituto de Investigaciones Económicas y Sociales (IIES). Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Sociales. Universidad de Los Andes. Mérida, Venezuela, vol. 38(35), pages 11-56, January-J.
    8. Widiarto, Indra & Emrouznejad, Ali, 2015. "Social and financial efficiency of Islamic microfinance institutions: A Data Envelopment Analysis application," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 1-17.
    9. Migliavacca, Milena & Patel, Ritesh & Paltrinieri, Andrea & Goodell, John W., 2022. "Mapping impact investing: A bibliometric analysis," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    10. David Hulme & Thankom Arun, 2011. "What’s wrong and right with microfinance – missing an angle on responsible finance?," Global Development Institute Working Paper Series 15511, GDI, The University of Manchester.
    11. Kuriakose, Francis & Joseph, Janssen, 2020. "Microfinance and Human Development in Kerala," MPRA Paper 98393, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    12. Mark Pauly & Ashley Swanson, 2013. "Social Impact Bonds in Nonprofit Health Care: New Product or New Package?," NBER Working Papers 18991, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    13. Bauchet, Jonathan & Morduch, Jonathan, 2013. "Is Micro too Small? Microcredit vs. SME Finance," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 288-297.
    14. Leonardo Becchetti, 2012. "Voting with the wallet," International Review of Economics, Springer;Happiness Economics and Interpersonal Relations (HEIRS), vol. 59(3), pages 245-268, September.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    corporate governance; microcredit; social entrepreneurship; leverage; prosocial behavior;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

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

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