Can Commercially-Oriented Microfinance Help Meet the Millennium Development Goals? Evidence from Pakistan


Book Description

The current emphasis in the microfinance industry is a shift from donor-funded to commercially sustainable operations. This article evaluates the impact of access to microloans from the Khushhali Bank -- Pakistan's first and largest microfinance bank which operates on commercial principles. Using primary data from a detailed household survey of nearly 3,000 borrower and non-borrower households, a difference in difference approach is used to test for the impact of access to loans. Once the results are disaggregated between rural and urban areas there is a positive impact in rural areas on food expenditure and on some social indicators such as the health of children and female empowerment. These impacts are observed even in very poor households. These findings suggest that commercially-oriented microfinance and the millennium development goals are not incompatible, given a supportive environment.




The Micro-politics of Microcredit


Book Description

Microcredit has been seen in recent decades as having great potential for aiding development in poor developing countries, with Bangladesh being one of the countries which has pioneered microcredit and implemented it most widely. This book, based on extensive original research, explores how microcredit works in practice, and assesses its effectiveness. It discusses how microcredit, usually channelled through women, is often passed to the men of the family, a practice disapproved of by some, but regarded as acceptable by borrowers who have a communal approach to debt, rather than viewing debt as something held by single individuals. The book demonstrates how the rules around microcredit are often seem as irksome by the borrowers, how lenders often charge high rates of interest and work primarily to preserve their institutions, thereby going against the spirit of the microcredit movement, and how borrowers often end up on a downward spiral, deeper and deeper in debt. Overall, the book argues that although microcredit does much good, it also has many drawbacks.




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.




Sustainability and Poverty Outreach in Microfinance: the Sri Lankan Experience


Book Description

The fulfillment of the role of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in providing affordable financial services to the poor is associated with invariable challenges to MFIs, particularly in maintaining MFIs’ sustainability. The research work undertaken in this context to prepare author’s doctoral thesis has finally culminated in a book, which has comprehensively dealt with the subject of sustainability versus poverty outreach in microfinance. Overall, the results of panel data analysis confirm that there is no trade-off between sustainability and poverty outreach of MFIs. Thus, MFIs are in a position to achieve operational self-sufficiency while expanding services to the poor. Further, it is evident from logit analysis that group lending as against individual lending is strategically important for MFIs to achieve sustainability, successfully warding off the problems of asymmetric information prevailing in the rural credit markets. The book carries a detailed description on Sri Lanka’s financial sector and poverty aspects with special emphasis on microfinance sector which comprises of more than 15000 service providers under a variety of institutions with different mandates and business models. Policy discussion along with the findings of econometric analyses provides the reader with new insights especially in the absence of any other macro-level studies carried out to cover microfinance sector in Sri Lanka.




Politics, Poverty, and Microfinance


Book Description

This book analyzes the affect that government institutions have on whether or not microfinance contributes to poverty alleviation in the context of Latin America. It concludes that political and economic stability, as well as and law order, have a statistically significant impact on microfinance effectiveness. The conditions that promote poverty alleviation are not entirely the same as those upon which major microfinance investors base their funding decisions. The result is that much microfinance funding is going to the wrong places. This means that not only is microfinance not helping the poor, but under the wrong conditions it actually exacerbates poverty. The author arrives at these conclusions through a mixed methods approach, using both statistical analysis and case studies.




Frontier Topics in Banking


Book Description

The aim of this book is twofold: Firstly to focus on the development of new instruments and topics in the financial industry. Secondly to analyze the development of “old” themes applied to different international contexts, such as cross-border banking and the role of government financial resources in China. With these goals in mind, the book explores the investigation of new instruments for the financing of SMEs and new ventures, such as mini bonds and equity crowdfunding. Additionally, it covers the field of corporate governance and corporate social responsibility including financial inclusion, gender roles, disclosure, social media roles and litigation. The book also investigates the choices followed by the Royal Swedish Academy in the selection of Nobel laureates in economics science to analyze their influence on the financial industry. Geared to banking academics, researchers and students, this book uncovers the most prominent issues within the banking industry today.




The Global Manager


Book Description

It examines the context in which multi-national companies operate and how the key players interact with each other and with the external business environment. It takes an issues based approach that explores contemporary issues that impact global business activity and examines the managerial responses to those issues. An excellent course text.




Socially Responsible Finance and Investing


Book Description

A detailed look at the role of social responsibility in finance and investing The concept of socially responsible finance and investing continues to grow, especially in the wake of one of the most devastating financial crises in history. This includes responsibility from the corporate side (corporate social responsibility) as well as the investor side (socially responsible investing) of the capital markets. Filled with in-depth insights and practical advice, Socially Responsible Finance and Investing offers an important basis of knowledge regarding both the theory and practice of this ever-evolving area of finance. As part of the Robert W. Kolb Series in Finance, this book showcases contributed chapters from professionals and academics with extensive expertise on this particular subject. It provides a comprehensive view of socially responsible foundations and their applications to finance and investing as determined by the current state of research. Discusses many important issues associated with socially responsible finance and investing, like moral hazard and the concept of "too big to fail" Contains contributed chapters from numerous thought-leaders in the field of finance Presents comprehensive coverage starting with the basics and bringing you through to cutting-edge, current theory and practice Now more than ever, we need to be mindful of the social responsibilities of all investment practices. The recent financial crisis and recession has changed the financial landscape for years to come and Socially Responsible Finance and Investing is a timely guide to help us navigate this difficult terrain.




Development Finance


Book Description

This book presents a broad range of empirical research papers covering key issues in development finance. Despite having gained significant momentum in Africa and other emerging economies, textbooks and research publications on development finance are still very limited. This book shines a light on the main focal areas of the international ‘finance for development’ agenda and outlines innovative approaches to enhance economic growth and development finance to contribute towards realizing global sustainable development goals. Chapters from expert contributors cover topics such as domestic resource mobilization, debt relief, microfinance, financial sustainability, tax buoyancy, Foreign Direct Investment, foreign capital flows, and labour productivity. This book serves as a valuable reference tool for researchers, students and practitioners in this field.




Utilizing Technology for Sustainable Resource Management Solutions


Book Description

The intersection of technology and sustainability is with a particular focus on the concept of the circular economy. Efficient resource use and waste reduction are paramount concerns in today's world. Utilizing Technology for Sustainable Resource Management Solutions provides a comprehensive overview of how technology can be harnessed to achieve sustainable resource management within the framework of a circular economy. The book delves into various aspects of the circular economy. It explores the principles that underpin it, presents real-world case studies that exemplify its successful implementation, and discusses the role of cutting-edge technology, which is instrumental in driving transformative change. The book advances current research and examines the intricate link between technology and sustainability, centered around the circular economy. It propels readers into the heart of environmental sustainability, presenting a compelling argument for adopting circular economy principles to mitigate resource depletion and environmental degradation. Through insightful case studies and theoretical foundations, readers are empowered to drive environmentally responsible practices in their personal and professional spheres. This book helps business leaders to integrate circular economy principles, reduce waste, and drive innovation, fostering long-term viability and competitiveness. Policymakers find a valuable resource for evidence-based insights into technology's role in sustainable resource management, aiding in developing regulations that balance economic growth with environmental stewardship. In academic and educational circles, the book has become an essential tool.