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Information, the Cost of Credit, and Operational Efficiency: An Empirical Study of Microfinance

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  • Mark J. Garmaise
  • Gabriel Natividad

Abstract

We provide direct evidence on the impact of asymmetric information on both financing and operating activities through a study of credit evaluations of microfinance institutions (MFIs). We employ a regression discontinuity model that exploits the eligibility criteria of an evaluation subsidy offered by a nonprofit consortium. Evaluations dramatically cut the cost of financing. This effect is strongest for commercial lenders and for short-term MFI--lender relationships. The impact of evaluations on the supply of finance is mixed. Evaluated MFIs lend more efficiently, extending more loans per employee. The Author 2010. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Society for Financial Studies. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org., Oxford University Press.

Suggested Citation

  • Mark J. Garmaise & Gabriel Natividad, 2010. "Information, the Cost of Credit, and Operational Efficiency: An Empirical Study of Microfinance," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 23(6), pages 2560-2590, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:rfinst:v:23:y:2010:i:6:p:2560-2590
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    Cited by:

    1. Solomon Akpoviroro Kowo & Olusegun Adeleke Oba Adenuga & Olalekan Owotutu Sabitu, 2019. "The role of SMEs development on poverty alleviation in Nigeria," Post-Print hal-02188849, HAL.
    2. Guillermo Baquero & Malika Hamadi & Andréas Heinen, 2012. "Competition, loan rates and information dispersion in microcredit markets," ESMT Research Working Papers ESMT-12-02, ESMT European School of Management and Technology.
    3. Simo, Christelle & Tchakoute Tchuigoua, Hubert & Nzongang, Joseph, 2023. "Does corporate social responsibility pay? Evidence from social ratings in microfinance institutions," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    4. Khalil, Samer & Mansi, Sattar & Mazboudi, Mohamad & Zhang, Andrew (Jianzhong), 2019. "Information asymmetry and the wealth appropriation effect in the bond market: Evidence from late disclosures," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 49-61.
    5. Andrew Ellul & Tullio Jappelli & Marco Pagano & Fausto Panunzi, 2016. "Transparency, Tax Pressure, and Access to Finance," Review of Finance, European Finance Association, vol. 20(1), pages 37-76.
    6. Niels Hermes & Marek Hudon, 2018. "Determinants Of The Performance Of Microfinance Institutions: A Systematic Review," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(5), pages 1483-1513, December.
    7. Bo Becker & Marieke Bos & Kasper Roszbach, 2020. "Bad Times, Good Credit," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 52(S1), pages 107-142, October.
    8. Susan Albring & Monica Banyi & Dan Dhaliwal & Raynolde Pereira, 2016. "Does the Firm Information Environment Influence Financing Decisions? A Test Using Disclosure Regulation," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 62(2), pages 456-478, February.
    9. Arzi Adbi, 2023. "Financial Sustainability of For-Profit Versus Non-Profit Microfinance Organizations Following a Scandal," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 188(1), pages 57-74, November.
    10. Carli, Francesco & Uras, R.B., 2014. "Optimal Joint Liability Lending and with Costly Peer Monitoring," Discussion Paper 2014-075, Tilburg University, Center for Economic Research.
    11. Andra C. Ghent & Rubén Hernández-Murillo & Michael T. Owyang, 2015. "Did Affordable Housing Legislation Contribute to the Subprime Securities Boom?," Real Estate Economics, American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association, vol. 43(4), pages 820-854, November.
    12. Hossain, Shahadat & Galbreath, Jeremy & Hasan, Mostafa Monzur & Randøy, Trond, 2020. "Does competition enhance the double-bottom-line performance of microfinance institutions?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    13. Usman Shettima & Nazam Dzolkarnaini, 2024. "Deposit‐borrowing substitutability: Evidence from microfinance institutions around the world," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(3), pages 3326-3343, July.
    14. Hermes, Cornelis & Hudon, M., 2018. "Determinants of the Performance of Microfinance Institutions: A Systematic Review," Research Report 2018008, University of Groningen, Research Institute SOM (Systems, Organisations and Management).
    15. Zhao, Eric Yanfei & Lounsbury, Michael, 2016. "An institutional logics approach to social entrepreneurship: Market logic, religious diversity, and resource acquisition by microfinance organizations," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 31(6), pages 643-662.
    16. Tadele, Haileslasie & Roberts, Helen & Whiting, Rosalind H., 2018. "Microfinance institutions' website accessibility," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 279-293.
    17. Michael Delgado & Christopher Parmeter & Valentina Hartarska & Roy Mersland, 2015. "Should all microfinance institutions mobilize microsavings? Evidence from economies of scope," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 48(1), pages 193-225, February.
    18. Raj Aggarwal & John Goodell, 2013. "Lending to women in microfinance: influence of social trust and national culture Lending to women in microfinance: influence of social trust and national culture," Working Papers (Old Series) 1317, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland.
    19. Albring, Susan & Huang, Shawn & Pereira, Raynolde & Xu, Xiaolu, 2020. "Disclosure and liquidity management: Evidence from regulation fair disclosure," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 16(3).
    20. Tchakoute Tchuigoua, Hubert, 2016. "Buffer capital in microfinance institutions," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(9), pages 3523-3537.
    21. Natividad, Gabriel, 2019. "Base tributaria y discontinuidades geopolíticas [Tax base and geopolitical discontinuities]," MPRA Paper 113169, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    22. Hao Li & Zhisheng Li, 2022. "The effect of daily price limits on stock liquidity: Evidence from the Chinese stock market," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 62(5), pages 4885-4917, December.
    23. Aggarwal, Raj & Goodell, John W. & Selleck, Lauren J., 2015. "Lending to women in microfinance: Role of social trust," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 24(1), pages 55-65.
    24. Hugo Hoffmann Christian, 2021. "Blockchain Use Cases Revisited: Micro-Lending Solutions for Retail Banking and Financial Inclusion," Journal of Systems Science and Information, De Gruyter, vol. 9(1), pages 1-15, February.
    25. Ghosh, Suman & Van Tassel, Eric, 2013. "Funding microfinance under asymmetric information," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 8-15.

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