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Impact of gender and governance on microfinance efficiency

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  • Bibi, Uzma
  • Balli, Hatice Ozer
  • Matthews, Claire D.
  • Tripe, David W.L.

Abstract

This study examines the efficiency of South Asian microfinance institutions (MFIs) using Data Envelopment Analysis. Bias corrected efficiency estimates for the individual MFIs are regressed on a set of explanatory variables (including governance and gender) employing the double bootstrap truncated regression approach (Simar and Wilson, 2007) and panel data regression. First stage results suggest that South Asian MFIs are more financially efficient than socially efficient. More precisely, we find that these MFIs are technically inefficient but scale efficient, and that there was some improvement in financial efficiency over time. The relatively low average efficiency scores show that there is quite a bit of variation in microfinance efficiency. Second stage regression reveals that female loan officers are positive determinants of MFIs’ efficiency. We find a strong association between a MFI’s governance and its financial and social efficiency.

Suggested Citation

  • Bibi, Uzma & Balli, Hatice Ozer & Matthews, Claire D. & Tripe, David W.L., 2018. "Impact of gender and governance on microfinance efficiency," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 307-319.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:intfin:v:53:y:2018:i:c:p:307-319
    DOI: 10.1016/j.intfin.2017.12.008
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    2. Wu, Wentao & Lin, Zhilu & Oghazi, Pejvak & Patel, Pankaj C., 2022. "The impact of demonetization on microfinance institutions," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 1-18.
    3. Fall, F.S. & Tchakoute Tchuigoua, H. & Vanhems, A. & Simar, L., 2021. "Gender effect on microfinance social efficiency: A robust nonparametric approach," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 295(2), pages 744-757.
    4. 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).
    5. Khan, Muhammad Atif & Gu, Lulu & Khan, Muhammad Asif & Bhatti, Muhammad Ishaq, 2022. "Institutional perspective of financial sector development: A multidimensional assessment," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 46(4).
    6. Glass, Anthony J. & Kenjegaliev, Amangeldi & Kenjegalieva, Karligash, 2020. "Spatial scale and product mix economies in U.S. banking with simultaneous spillover regimes," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 284(2), pages 693-711.
    7. Shamsuddin Ahamad & Hamdan Amer Ali Al-Jaifi & Kizito Uyi Ehigiamusoe, 2023. "Impact of Intellectual Capital on Microfinance Institutions’ Efficiency: the Moderating Role of External Governance," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 14(2), pages 691-717, June.
    8. Goodell, John W. & Goyal, Abhinav & Hasan, Iftekhar, 2020. "Comparing financial transparency between for-profit and nonprofit suppliers of public goods: Evidence from microfinance," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    9. Leire San-Jose & Jose Luis Retolaza & Eric Lamarque, 2018. "The Social Efficiency for Sustainability: European Cooperative Banking Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-21, September.
    10. Milagros Gutiérrez-Fernández & Yakira Fernández-Torres, 2020. "Does Gender Diversity Influence Business Efficiency? An Analysis from the Social Perspective of CSR," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-18, May.
    11. Raja Qaiser Ahmed & Maryum Tamoor & Muhammad Waqas Saleem & Summar Iqbal Babar, 2022. "Chosen trauma and saffronization of India," International Area Studies Review, Center for International Area Studies, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, vol. 25(1), pages 36-49, March.
    12. Md. Ali Rasel & Sandar Win, 2020. "Microfinance governance: a systematic review and future research directions," Journal of Economic Studies, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 47(7), pages 1811-1847, April.
    13. Chen, Minghua & Kang, Qiaoling & Wu, Ji & Jeon, Bang Nam, 2022. "Do macroprudential policies affect bank efficiency? Evidence from emerging economies," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Microfinance institutions; Efficiency; Data envelopment analysis; Double bootstrap;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D24 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Production; Cost; Capital; Capital, Total Factor, and Multifactor Productivity; Capacity
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • G - Financial Economics

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