Group Lending versus Individual Lending in Microfinance

Lehner, Maria (August 2009): Group Lending versus Individual Lending in Microfinance. SFB/TR 15 Discussion Paper No. 299

Abstract

Microfinance is typically associated with joint liability of group members. However, a large part of microfinance institutions rather offers individual instead of group loans. We analyze the incentive mechanisms in both individual and group contracts. Moreover, we show that microfinance institutions offer group loans when the loan size is rather large, refinancing costs are high, and competition between microfinance institutions is low. Otherwise, individual loans are offered. Interestingly, our analysis predicts that individual lending in microfinance will gain in importance in the future if microfinance institutions continue to get better access to capital markets and if competition further rises.

• Dokumententyp: Paper
• Keywords: microfinance, group loans, individual loans
• Fakultät: Sonderforschungsbereiche > Discussion Paper Series of SFB/TR 15 Governance and the Efficiency of Economic Systems ; Sonderforschungsbereiche > Discussion Paper Series of SFB/TR 15 Governance and the Efficiency of Economic Systems > B7 - Globalisierung und der Anstieg der Vorstandsbezüge ; Volkswirtschaft ; Volkswirtschaft > Lehrstühle > Seminar für Komparative Wirtschaftsforschung
• Themengebiete: 300 Sozialwissenschaften > 330 Wirtschaft
• JEL Classification: G21, L13, O16
• Sprache: Englisch