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Efficiency of Microfinance Institutions:analysis of Southern African Development Community (SADC) member countries

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  • Elsa Assiaty de L. A. Agostinho
  • Raquel M. Gaspar

Abstract

Microfinance is seen as an important tool for financial inclusion and the fight against poverty because it has both a social and financial focus. The main objective of this paper is to evaluate the financial and social efficiency of 18 microfinance institutions (MFIs) in the year 2016 from 8 member countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The methodology chosen is the data envelopment analysis (DEA) with variable returns to scale (VRS) using an input-oriented production approach. The results indicate higher scores of financial efficiency than social efficiency. This may suggest that microfinance institutions adopt a more institutionalist approach over the welfarist approach. We also find evidence that providing financial services to women or the entire disadvantaged population is profitable. However, non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are more efficient in this regard than credit unions or banks.

Suggested Citation

  • Elsa Assiaty de L. A. Agostinho & Raquel M. Gaspar, 2021. "Efficiency of Microfinance Institutions:analysis of Southern African Development Community (SADC) member countries," Working Papers REM 2021/0172, ISEG - Lisbon School of Economics and Management, REM, Universidade de Lisboa.
    • Handle: RePEc:ise:remwps:wp01722021
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Microfinance; Financial Efficiency; Social Efficiency; DEA and SADC;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G20 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - General
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages

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