Microcredit and the Poorest of the Poor: Theory and Evidence from Bolivia

Abstract

We construct a theoretical framework that puts the social worth of a microfinance organization (MFO) in terms of the depth, worth to users, cost to users, breadth, length, and scope of its output. We then analyze evidence of depth of outreach for five MFOs in Bolivia. Most of the poor households reached by the MFOs were near the poverty line-they were the richest of the poor. Group lenders had more depth of outreach than individual lenders. The urban poorest were more likely to be borrowers, but rural borrowers were more likely to be among the poorest.

Microfinance Complementarity and Trade-Off between Financial Performance and Social Impact

“…Based on the breadth logic, MFIs should have large-scale outreach in order to make a difference to the world"s poverty levels. Some argue that shallow depth can be compensated for by breadth of outreach or that it is even more important than depth (Navajas et al, 2000;Robinson, 2001). The objective functions might thus differ in the weight MFIs assign to different aspects of outreach.…”

Impacto de las microfinanzas en la educación formal de niños en hogares de Bolivia

“…Esta variable se basa en el índice de pobreza utilizado por Navajas et al (2000), adaptado del Mapa de pobreza para Bolivia, 1992. Para cada hogar se utiliza el índice de satisfacción mínima de necesidades básicas (salud, acceso a servicios públicos como agua y electricidad, materiales de construcción de la vivienda, hacinamiento, alfabetización y educación) con un ajuste especial; el componente de educación del índice original se eliminó para evitar problemas de endogeneidad en la estimación.…”

Mudanças regulatórias no microcrédito e desempenho financeiro e social de cooperativas de crédito no Brasil

“…Sendo assim, as hipóteses estatísticas levantadas As variáveis mais utilizadas em estudos anteriores como métricas para a amplitude do alcance são o número de mutuários ativos ou de clientes atendidos (Bassem, 2009;Cull et al, 2007;Hartarska, 2005;Hartarska & Mersland, 2012;Hartarska & Nadolnyak, 2007;Mersland & Strøm, 2009;Meyer, 2002;Navajas et al, 2000). A justificativa é que indivíduos que não tinham acesso a serviços financeiros formais passaram a ter com a oferta de microcrédito.…”

“…Desempenho social (Bédécarrats et al, 2011;MIX;Quayes, 2012;SPTF). o Amplitude (breadth) do alcance (Cull et al, 2007;Hartarska, 2005;Hartarska & Mersland, 2012;Hartarska & Nadolnyak, 2007;Mersland & Strøm, 2009;Meyer, 2002;Navajas et al, 2000;Schreiner, 2002). o Profundidade (depth) do alcance (Bassem, 2009;Galema et al, 2012;Hartarska, 2005;Hartarska & Mersland, 2012;Mersland & Strøm, 2009 …”

“…Para a amplitude do alcance: total de empréstimos e número de clientes atendidos ou mutuários ativos (Barry & Tacneng, 2014;Bassem, 2009;Cull et al, 2007;Hartarska, 2005;Hartarska & Mersland, 2012;Hartarska & Nadolnyak, 2007;Mersland & Strøm, 2009;Meyer, 2002;Navajas et al, 2000;Quayes, 2012;Rosenberg, 2009). Para a profundidade do alcance: valor médio dos empréstimos (Barry & Tacneng, 2014;Hartarska & Nadolnyak, 2007;Kar, 2010;Luzzi & Weber, 2006;Luzzi & Weber, 2007;Mersland & Strøm, 2009;Quayes, 2012) e valor médio das operações.…”