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Microfinancial Services And Risk Management: Evidences From Sri Lanka

Author

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  • MIRKO BENDIG

    (German Institute of Global and Area Studies)

  • THANKOM ARUN

    (The University of Central Lancashire)

Abstract

This paper examines the importance of financial services as risk coping mechanisms in Sri Lanka, while insurance and savings products function as ex-ante, i.e., preventive, strategies for consumption smoothing, credit is typically used as an ex-post risk coping strategy. Based on household survey data, it estimates the determinants of the household¡¯s use of one, two or all three types of microfinancial services and for different combinations of financial services applying ordered probit models. There is empirical evidence that household¡¯s probability to participate in microfinancial services increases with rising self perception towards risk. Further, it depends highly on the type of risk, if a household is more or less likely to use microfinancial services, whereas the accessibility to one, two or three microfinancial services are related to the experience of specific hazards in the past. In confirmation with earlier findings, the poor are less likely to use microfinancial services than their better-off counterparts.

Suggested Citation

  • Mirko Bendig & Thankom Arun, 2011. "Microfinancial Services And Risk Management: Evidences From Sri Lanka," Journal of Economic Development, Chung-Ang Unviersity, Department of Economics, vol. 36(4), pages 97-126, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:jed:journl:v:36:y:2011:i:4:p:97-126
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Arun, Thankom & Bendig, Mirko & Arun, Shoba, 2012. "Bequest Motives and Determinants of Micro Life Insurance in Sri Lanka," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 40(8), pages 1700-1711.
    2. Yeboah, Augustine Kwadwo & Obeng, Camara Kwasi, 2016. "Effect of financial literacy on willingness to pay for micro-insurance by commercial market business operators in Ghana," MPRA Paper 70135, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Augustine Kwadwo Yeboah, 2018. "Determinants of Micro-Insurance Ownership Decision: Empirical Evidence from Informal Commercial Market Business Operators in Ghana," Journal of Social and Development Sciences, AMH International, vol. 8(4), pages 14-23.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Financial Markets; Financial Services; Microinsurance; Sri Lanka; South Asia;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G20 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - General
    • O16 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Financial Markets; Saving and Capital Investment; Corporate Finance and Governance
    • R22 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Other Demand

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