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The interest rates and performance of MFIs in the MENA region: is there a moral issue?

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  • Philippe Adair

    (ERUDITE - Equipe de Recherche sur l’Utilisation des Données Individuelles en lien avec la Théorie Economique - UPEM - Université Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallée - UPEC UP12 - Université Paris-Est Créteil Val-de-Marne - Paris 12)

  • Imène Berguiga

Abstract

The high interest rates of microfinance institutions (MFIs) seem to oppose their social mission, and raise a moral issue. We analyse the determinants of the level of interest rates with regard to the financial performance of an unbalanced panel of 66 MFIs in nine countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region over the period 2004-2012. We differentiate internal factors (cost of capital, operating expenses and loss provisions) from the external ones (regulation, competition and inflation).The outcomes of a typology from a multivariate analysis upon the relationship between the interest rate and social performance of 53 MFIs in 2008 do not match the classification of MFIs according to Yunus and Weber, which proves irrelevant.

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  • Philippe Adair & Imène Berguiga, 2015. "The interest rates and performance of MFIs in the MENA region: is there a moral issue?," Post-Print hal-01667342, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-01667342
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-01667342
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    7. Esubalew Assefa & Niels Hermes & Aljar Meesters, 2013. "Competition and the performance of microfinance institutions," Applied Financial Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(9), pages 767-782, May.
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    12. Philippe ADAIR & Imène BERGUIGA, 2010. "Les Facteurs Déterminants De La Performance Sociale Et De La Performance Financière Des Institutions De Microfinance Dans La Région Mena : Une Analyse En Coupe Instantanée," Region et Developpement, Region et Developpement, LEAD, Universite du Sud - Toulon Var, vol. 32, pages 91-120.
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    Cited by:

    1. Philippe Adair & Imène Berguiga, 2021. "A survey on funding MSMEs and female entrepreneurs in MENA countries and the microfinance issue," Erudite Working Paper 2021-12, Erudite.
    2. Imène Berguiga & Yosra Said & Philippe Adair, 2017. "The social and financial performance of Microfinance institutions in the MENA region: Do Islamic institutions perform better?," Post-Print hal-01667406, HAL.
    3. Philippe Adair & Imene Berguiga, 2017. "What Determines Premium of MFIs in the Mena Region? A Panel Data Analysis (2004- 2014)," Post-Print hal-01667346, HAL.
    4. I. Berguiga & Y.Ben Said & P. Adair, 2020. "The Social and Financial Performance of Microfinance Institutions in the Middle East and North Africa Region: Do Islamic Institutions Outperform Conventional Institutions?," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(7), pages 1075-1100, October.

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