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Suitability of Microfinance as an Investment Option

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  • Karel Janda
  • Barbora Svarovska

Abstract

This paper investigates investment performance of the most commercially developed microfinance investment funds and it also includes a discussion of major economic characteristics of microfinance investments. When we analyze the relation between microfinance funds' returns and the performance of stock and fixed income markets in developed and emerging economies we find a slightly negative correlation. We show that returns of microfinance investment funds exceed the returns on the market portfolio. Together with reported near-to-zero beta estimates as a proxy for the systematic risk, this means that investment into microfinance investment vehicles may be recommended as a desirable addition to an investment portfolio.

Suggested Citation

  • Karel Janda & Barbora Svarovska, 2012. "Suitability of Microfinance as an Investment Option," CERGE-EI Working Papers wp470, The Center for Economic Research and Graduate Education - Economics Institute, Prague.
    • Handle: RePEc:cer:papers:wp470
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Karel Janda & Barbora Svárovská, 2009. "Investing into Microfinance Investment Funds," Working Papers IES 2009/32, Charles University Prague, Faculty of Social Sciences, Institute of Economic Studies, revised Dec 2009.
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    13. Robert Cull & Asli Demirgüç-Kunt & Jonathan Morduch, 2009. "Microfinance meets the market," Contemporary Studies in Economic and Financial Analysis, in: Moving Beyond Storytelling: Emerging Research in Microfinance, pages 1-30, Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
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    Cited by:

    1. Harmincova, Zuzana & Janda, Karel, 2014. "Microfinance around the world – regional SWOT analysis," MPRA Paper 58171, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Janda, Karel & Turbat, Batbayar, 2013. "Factors Influencing Portfolio Yield of Microfinance Institutions in Central Asia," MPRA Paper 49549, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Janda, Karel & Turbat, Batbayar, 2013. "Econometric Analysis of Profitability of Microfinance Institutions in Selected Asian Countries," MPRA Paper 51430, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Shamima Nasrin & Rajah Rasiah & Angathevar Baskaran & Muhammad Mehedi Masud, 2018. "What determines the financial performance of microfinance institutions in Bangladesh? a panel data analysis," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 52(3), pages 1409-1422, May.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    microfinance; investment; funds; risk; return;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages

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