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Performance of Microfinance: The Role of Subsidies

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  • Ahmad Nawaz

Abstract

Unlike conventional finance institutions, Microfinance institutions (MFIs) strive for financial sustainability but also empowerment of the poor. This social nature of MFIs is mainly financed by subsidies from donors. This paper measures the extent of subsidization in MF sector for the years 2005 and 2006 using Yaron’s Subsidy Dependence Index (SDI) which measures the social cost of subsidized MFIs in a short time frame. This latest data set has been generated from the audit reports of the 204 MFIs with 23 million borrowers in 54 Countries worldwide constituting a significant part of the microfinance outreach worldwide. Based on our subsidy calculations, for the year 2005, 153 MFIs out of 204 are subsidy dependent while for year 2006 it is 122 out of 179 MFIs. A with & without subsidy analysis of conventional financial ratios confirm the fact that MFIs financial performance declines substantially with-out subsidies. Based on the evidence, the paper also highlights the factors which contribute and dec rease the sustainability of microfinance

Suggested Citation

  • Ahmad Nawaz, 2010. "Performance of Microfinance: The Role of Subsidies," Working Papers CEB 10-008.RS, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    • Handle: RePEc:sol:wpaper:10-008
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    1. Mark Schreiner & Jacob Yaron, 2001. "Development Finance Institutions : Measuring Their Subsidy," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 13983.
    2. Yaron, J., 1992. "Assessing Development Finance Institutions; A Public Interest Analysis," World Bank - Discussion Papers 174, World Bank.
    3. Morduch, Jonathan, 1999. "The role of subsidies in microfinance: evidence from the Grameen Bank," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 60(1), pages 229-248, October.
    4. Youssoufou Congo, 2002. "Performance of Microfinance Institutions in Burkina Faso," WIDER Working Paper Series DP2002-01, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    5. Khandker, S.R. & Khalily, B. & Khan, Z., 1995. "Grameen Bank: Performance and Sustainability," World Bank - Discussion Papers 306, World Bank.
    6. Valentina Hartarska & Denis Nadolnyak, 2007. "Do regulated microfinance institutions achieve better sustainability and outreach? Cross-country evidence," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 39(10), pages 1207-1222.
    7. repec:bla:devpol:v:21:y:2003:i::p:357-382 is not listed on IDEAS
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    1. Laxmi Remer & Hanna Kattilakoski, 2021. "Microfinance institutions’ operational self-sufficiency in sub-Saharan Africa: empirical evidence," International Journal of Corporate Social Responsibility, Springer, vol. 6(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Janda, Karel & Van Tran, Quang & Zetek, Pavel, 2014. "Influence of External Funding on Microfinance Performance," MPRA Paper 58170, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Janda, Karel & Van Tran, Quang & Zetek, Pavel, 2014. "Vybrané faktory ovlivňující zapojení žen v mikrofinancích [The Selected Factors Influencing the Participation of Women in Microfinance]," MPRA Paper 59109, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Stephen Morse, 2024. "Giving and Receiving: Faith and the Sustainability of Institutions Providing Microfinance Services for Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-23, February.
    5. Wijesiri, Mahinda & Yaron, Jacob & Meoli, Michele, 2015. "Performance of microfinance institutions in achieving the poverty outreach and financial sustainability: When age and size matter?," MPRA Paper 69821, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Adalessossi, Kokou, 2024. "What are the determinants of the financial and social performance of MFIs in Togo? Does gender borrower matter on financial performance?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 62(PA).
    7. Karel Janda & Tran Van Quang & Pavel Zetek, 2015. "Faktory ovlivňující zapojení žen v mikrofinancích [The Factors Influencing the Participation of Women in Microfinance]," Politická ekonomie, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2015(3), pages 363-381.
    8. Naseer, Imran & Azam, Amir, 2019. "Role of Micro finance Institutions In Promoting Financial Inclusion and Economic Growth," MPRA Paper 97633, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 12 Dec 2019.
    9. Miranda-Reyna, Montserrat & Carrillo-Urbina, Gilberto Jaime, 2017. "Impacto de los indicadores financieros en el desempeño de las instituciones microfinancieras en México: un estudio de panel desbalanceado," eseconomía, Escuela Superior de Economía, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, vol. 12(46), pages 41-60, Primer se.
    10. Janda, Karel & Tran, Quang & Zetek, Pavel, 2014. "Vliv externího financování na mikrofinanční rozvoj - makro perspektiva [Influence of external funding on microfinance performance - macro perspective]," MPRA Paper 58166, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    11. Janda, Karel & Zetek, Pavel, 2014. "The Impact of Public Spending on the Performance of Microfinance Institutions," MPRA Paper 55690, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    12. Chen, Rui & Hartarska, Valentina, 2018. "Are All Banking Crises the Same: Evidence from MFIs," 2018 Annual Meeting, August 5-7, Washington, D.C. 274227, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    13. Stephen Kosgei BITOK & Josephat CHEBOI & Ambrose KEMBOI, 2019. "Does Portfolio Quality Influence Financial Sustainability? A Case of Microfinance Institutions in Kenya," Journal of Economics and Financial Analysis, Tripal Publishing House, vol. 3(2), pages 23-39.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Microfinance institutions; Subsidies; Sustainability;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • D02 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Institutions: Design, Formation, Operations, and Impact

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