How Does Competition Affect the Performance of MFIs? Evidence from Bangladesh

35 Pages Posted: 21 Sep 2014

See all articles by Shahidur R. Khandker

Shahidur R. Khandker

World Bank - Development Research Group (DECRG)

Gayatri B. Koolwal

World Bank

Syed Badruddoza

Texas Tech University- Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: April 13, 2013

Abstract

Over the past 20 years, Bangladesh has witnessed strong competition among microfinance institutions. Using program-level panel data from 2005-2010, this paper studies the microfinance institutions'recent competitive roles in their pricing of products, targeting strategies and portfolio shifts, as well as their ability to recover loans. The findings do not support the view that newer microfinance institutions are less risk-averse in their targeting, or that increased borrowing among households due to microfinance institution competition has lowered recovery rates. There is also a considerable urban-rural distinction; although newer microfinance institutions tend to attract riskier clients in urban areas, the opposite is true in rural areas. Loan recovery rates are also the highest among the newest microfinance institutions for women in rural areas, suggesting that microfinance institutions may offer distinct products in these areas to attract better-risk clients. The portfolio of newer microfinance institutions also has a greater share of lending for agriculture, and fewer savings products.

Keywords: Microfinance, Competition, Performance, Bangladesh

JEL Classification: G21, G28

Suggested Citation

Khandker, Shahidur R. and Koolwal, Gayatri B. and Badruddoza, Syed, How Does Competition Affect the Performance of MFIs? Evidence from Bangladesh (April 13, 2013). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2498660 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2498660

Shahidur R. Khandker (Contact Author)

World Bank - Development Research Group (DECRG) ( email )

1818 H. Street, N.W.
MSN3-311
Washington, DC 20433
United States

Gayatri B. Koolwal

World Bank ( email )

United States

Syed Badruddoza

Texas Tech University- Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics ( email )

Suite 167, 2625 Memorial Circle
TTU Administration
Lubbock, TX 79409
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
71
Abstract Views
593
Rank
352,966
PlumX Metrics