Myths in microfinance

Roy Mersland and R Øystein Strøm ()

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Abstract: Microfinancethe provision of financial services to the pooris high on the public agenda.We discuss and evaluate three myths regarding microfinance based on new data from rated microfinance institutions (MFIs). The first myth is that an efficient MFI needs to be shareholder owned; second that its governance should first and foremost address the potential conflict between owners and managers; and third that MFIs are drifting away from their poorer customers towards serving the wealthier. The data do not support any of these myths.We conclude that microfinance is a viable business model.

Keywords: Microfinance; Microfinance ownership mission drift governance global study; global study; governance; mission drift; ownership; Disability View project Microfinance; Microfinance &; Gender quota law View project Livelihoods; Disability View project Microfinance ownership mission drift governance global study; amp; Gender quota law View project Livelihoods Microfinance & (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2008
Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-05222040v1
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Published in Elsevier Progress in International Business Research (PIBR) series, pp.207 - 227, 2008, ⟨10.1016/s1745-8862(08)03010-0⟩

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05222040

DOI: 10.1016/s1745-8862(08)03010-0

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