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Do all aspects of social capital improve repayment behavior in group lending programs? The group lending literature typically uses one or few measures of social capital in a linear form, and systematically understates the uncertainty of results and model specifications. As a result, many papers conclude that specific measures of social capital do not matter. This paper introduces Bayesian Model Averaging to the group lending literature and simultaneously tests the validity of six different measures of social capital. While the initial analysis suggests that only few measures matter, this result becomes invalid when using model selection criteria and Bayesian Model Averaging while allowing for nonlinearity and interactions between different aspects of social capital. We find geographical proximity, trust, friendship, group homogeneity, and acquaintanceship to be important factors in explaining group repayment with mixed evidence for relatives. Our results suggest that microfinance institutions should target borrowing groups with more social capital.

Building on the theory of information asymmetry, we investigate the impact of conventional banking versus the impact of microfinance on new entrepreneurship. We use a panel dataset collected from 49 developing countries between 2003 and 2018 and apply a random effects linear regression model with endogenous sample selection. We show, among other results, that conventional banking has no direct impact on new entrepreneurship. In contrast to conventional banking, microfinance appears to promote the growth of new entrepreneurship. However, as the conventional banking sector grows, the positive impact of microfinance on new entrepreneurship diminishes. 2022 Elsevier B.V. Scopus

According to conventional wisdom, dependence on subsidies cannot achieve the double bottom lines of microfinance institutions (MFIs): outreach and financial sustainability. The application of market-based principles to microfinancing, such as deposit mobilisation, has been long suggested as an answer to this problem. This paper documents the following findings regarding this issue. First, deposit mobilisation crowds out subsidies. Second, subsidies and deposit mobilisation reduce microcredit interest rates and allow MFIs to reach poorer borrowers. Third, subsidies and deposit mobilisation worsen financial sustainability. Fourth, subsidies reduce repayment rates, while deposit mobilisation has no impact on repayment. Overall, the results suggest that neither subsidies nor deposit mobilisation solve the traditional problem of trade-off between outreach and financial sustainability. Scopus

Foreign currency debt provides additional access to capital and offers funds in favorable and flexible terms to microfinance institutions (MFIs). Yet, we find that the use of foreign currency debt, on average, leads to higher microcredit interest rates. We also find that MFIs operating in countries with pegged exchange rate regimes and profit MFIs are better able to mitigate foreign currency risk. The results of the paper suggest that local currency debt is a better option for MFIs if the goal is to provide microcredit at lower interest rates. Scopus

This paper examines the impact of Sukuk market development on banks' profitability using a dataset of 71 Islamic banks (IBs) and 146 conventional banks (CBs) spanning 13 countries over the 2003–2014 period. Using a dynamic panel model, we find that the overall bank profitability is negatively impacted by Sukuk market development. However, when we control for whether the bank is Islamic or conventional, important findings emerge. The results suggest that Sukuk development reduces IBs' profitability but has no impact on CBs' performance. In addition, the evidence shows that these adverse effects on IBs' profitability are substantially lower after the 2008 global financial crisis. Accordingly, our findings suggest that IBs were able to overcome Sukuk competition after the crisis.

Misunderstandings about the structure of microcredit interest rates continue to generate rich criticism of the industry's high interest rates. Research has focused attention on the cost structure of interest rates and, more recently, on macroeconomic and macro-institutional factors. While the cost structure is probably the most important determinant of interest rates, other factors also matter. In addition to other important results that usually validate the empirical literature, this paper finds that microcredit interest rates respond positively to corruption. The analysis shows that there is asymmetry between the effects of corruption, depending on whether or not the MFIs are regulated. While corruption has a positive and significant impact on interest rates of unregulated MFIs, it has a negligible impact on interest rates of regulated MFIs.

Theoretical models of group lending assume that all group members are identical in terms of their effect on repayment performance. In practice, however, this may not be true. We use a unique data set obtained from a survey of 160 borrowing groups in Jordan to investigate the impact of joint liability, screening and monitoring activities, and social ties of the group leader and other group members on repayment performance as measured by the intensity of default using a negative binomial II model. Our results suggest that the joint liability and screening activities of the leader are more strongly related to repayment performance than the same variables for the rest of the group members. Social ties of all members have a significant effect on repayment, while monitoring activities have no effect.

High microcredit interest rates have often been a source of criticism against the microfinance movement. Research has focused attention on the cost structure of interest rates and more recently on the macroeconomic and macro-institutional factors. While cost structure is probably the most important determinant of interest rates, other factors can also matter. This paper uses an innovative measure of foreign exchange risk to explore its impact on microcredit interest rates. We show that microfinance institutions that operate in countries with fixed exchange rate regimes tend to charge lower interest rates than those operating in countries with floating exchange rate regimes.

This paper provides evidence of the existence of diversification benefits in international stock markets when oil producing countries are included in a global portfolio. Moreover, it examines whether recent oil shocks and financial events have significant impact on the conditional correlations and diversification benefits. Using stock returns from developed, emerging, GCC countries and a global portfolio, the empirical findings show that while developed and emerging stock markets have experienced increased correlations over relatively long periods of time, the correlation in GCC stock markets remained low and constant offering high diversification benefits. Interestingly, the paper also finds that, during 2012-2014, the rising conditional correlation levels have reversed trends in developed and emerging markets alike offering more potential for international diversification. Our results are robust to model selection, data frequency, and innovations distribution. 2016 Elsevier B.V.. Scopus

Misunderstanding of the structure of microcredit interest rates remains a rich source of generating criticism against the industry high interest rates. Research has focused its attention on the cost structure of interest rates and recently on the macroeconomic and macro-institutional factors. While the cost structure is probably the most important determinant of interest rates, other factors matter too. This paper explores the risk of foreign exchange in microfinance. On average, MFIs that operate in countries with fixed exchange rate regimes tend to charge lower interest rates than those operating in countries with floating exchange rate regimes.

This paper is an attempt to unravel new factors that contribute to the success of microfinance institutions “MFIs.” We investigate whether countrywide socioeconomic characteristics and financial access can impact MFIs’ performance. Using data on 222 MFIs we find that countrywide socioeconomic characteristics such as fertility, income and education are important determinants of MFIs’ performance. For example, profitability of MFIs is more likely to fall and default on loans is more likely to rise if fertility rate increases. We also find that countrywide financial access indicators have significant impact on MFIs’ performance. For example, access to commercial banks deposit accounts has a significant and positive impact on MFIs’ success. Access to loans and commercial banks outreach appear to have a negative impact on MFIs’ performance. These results are important as they contradict the generally accepted assumption that commercial banks and MFIs operate in two different market segments and, hence, they are not direct competitors. Overall, the results suggest that several socioeconomic characteristics and financial access elements are important ingredients in evaluating MFIs’ performance.