Managing Risk and Creating Value with Microfinance


Book Description

This book provides guidelines and technical recommendations on microfinance based on expert presentations and cases from around the world.




Managing Risk and Creating Value with Microfinance


Book Description

This book provides guidelines and technical recommendations on microfinance based on expert presentations and cases from around the world.




Microfinance and Financial Inclusion


Book Description

Following the recent global financial crisis there is a growing interest in alternative finance – and microfinance in particular – as new instruments for providing financial services in a socially responsible way or as an alternative to traditional banking. Nonetheless, correspondingly there is also a lack of clarity about how to regulate alternative financial methods particularly in light of the financial crisis’ lessons on regulatory failure and shadow banking’s risks. This book considers microfinance from a legal and regulatory perspective. Microfinance is the provision of a wide range of financial services, particularly credit but also remittances, savings, to low-income people or financially excluded people. It combines a business structure with social inspiration, often resorts to technological innovations to lower costs (Fintech: e.g. crowdfunding and mobile banking) and merges with traditional local experiences (e.g. financial cooperatives and Islamic finance), this further complicating the regulatory picture. The book describes some of the unique dimensions of microfinance and the difficulties that this can cause for regulators, through a comparative analysis of selected European Union (EU) countries’ regimes. The focus is in fact on the EU legal framework, with some references to certain developing world experiences where relevant. The book assesses the impact and validity of current financial regulation principles and rules, in light of the most recent developments and trends in financial regulation in the wake of the financial crisis and compares microfinance with traditional banking. The book puts forward policy recommendations for regulators and policy makers to help address the challenges and opportunities offered by microfinance.




Banking and Microfinance Institution Partnerships


Book Description

This book examines partnerships between commercial banks and microfinance institutions (MFIs). It demonstrates that when set up properly, these partnerships have the potential to develop and enhance the financial inclusion agenda, and further support sustainable development. MFIs provide access to finance predominantly for those who are poor but economically active, and therefore their expansion is imperative for inclusive economic development. However, MFIs are faced with enormous challenges. The book discusses how partnering with a commercial bank can meet these challenges and the process of interaction contributing to the enhancement of institutional robustness of MFIs. Through two distinct case studies, in Cambodia and Australia, the book discusses the motivations, objectives, and operational dynamics of a partnership, as well as the challenges, success factors, and potential benefits, from the increase in outreach and sustainability, to the transference of knowledge and potential for capacity building. Similarly, the partnering banks benefit in line with the intended objectives – commercial or social besides help embedding social consciousness and improving staff engagement. Concluding with elucidating the characteristics of a partnership model that can succeed across different global contexts, the book will interest a range of researchers and students across development economics, banking, finance, and sustainable development.







Managing Development in a Globalized World


Book Description

Traditionally, development has been rooted in ideologies and assumptions prevalent in the developed world and in practices and strategies adopted by leading industrial nations. However, historically, eclectic ideas and approaches often clash with existing long-established notions of progress and modes of realizing social and economic change. Managing Development in a Globalized World: Concepts, Processes, Institutions explores this topic by incorporating ideas and interpretations that have previously been neglected or given inadequate attention in the discourse on developing countries. It underscores development as a continuous process that must be supported by sound policies and efficient management, supplying a wider understanding of the field. The authors argue that the application of innovative development techniques and best practices is essential for obtaining optimum results in meeting the needs of society. They examine the style of managing development with a new perspective that links the phenomenon with changing demands and the interplay of internal/external actors and a host of stakeholders. An exploration of key sectors in development provides clear comprehension of problems and solutions. A careful synthesis of theoretical/conceptual and empirical literature, the book assesses real-world situations and provides insight into the operational dynamics of development policies, programs, and institutions. It focuses on goals, values, and dynamics of development management that are undergoing rapid changes and continue to be enhanced to alleviate poverty and improve living standards in an era of globalization and inter-regional and inter-institutional synergies. It highlights best practices essential for the efficient and effective delivery of human development services that are designed and put in place to obtain optimum results in meeting the needs of society.




Microfinance: an Economic Analysis of Banking to the Poor


Book Description

Great strides are being made in technology, medicine, and other fields, but with these advances, many people are still being left behind in poverty. The poor struggle to feed their families, work long hours for little pay, and face obstacles in educating themselves and their children. They see no end to the nightmareand they feel trapped. World leaders have responded by offering a handout rather than a hand up, which does nothing to fix the problem. In this book, youll learn why: Foreign aid to developing countries weakens democratic institutions and empowers leaders to make bad policy decisions. Small businesses serve an important role in strengthening economies in developing countries. Small business owners opt out of legal environments and choose to operate in informal sectors. Microfinance institutions offer the poor greater flexibility and opportunity than larger financial institutions. When helping the poor, the goal does not need to be unanimous economic equality, but we must provide opportunities to escape the clutches of poverty. Find out how it can be done, step by step, with Microfinance.




Measuring the Impact of Microcredit Programs in Albania


Book Description

This book highlights a range of perspectives concerning the economic and social impact of microfinance products (especially microcredit) on their clients’ lives, scientifically analysing four distinct impact levels: namely, the individual level, the household level, the enterprise level, and the community level. Microcredit services enable low income people to move their family away from poverty and towards higher living standards, by increasing their business activity, improving their employment opportunities, and contributing to sustainable economic growth and development. Investigating the Albanian market, by assessing the impact of Albanian microfinance programs at each of the four above-mentioned impact levels, this book explores whether being a client of MFIs microfinance programmes brings positive changes to their lives and their community. The book uses various data collection techniques, such as surveys, interviews, quantitative measurements of financial data, and data processing methodologies including paired t-tests and a comparison-based data analysis methodology using a control group in order to support or reject the above hypothesis.




The role of Islamic microfinance in poverty alleviation and environmental awareness in Pasuruan, East Java, Indonesia


Book Description

Microfinance is known to be one of the best tools to combat poverty, and believed to have a positive effect on environmental awareness. This book analyses the impacts of Islamic microfinance on both poverty alleviation and environmental awareness and the variation in its effects between different geographical conditions, as well as how it compares in these respects with conventional microfinance. Islamic microfinance institutions (MFIs) had a more significant impact on poverty alleviation than conventional MFIs, but a low effect on awareness of specific environmental issues. Islamic MFIs were also successful in combating poverty regardless of regional differences, but similarly ineffective in contributing to environmental awareness.