Microfinance and Financial Inclusion. The Challenge of Regulating Alternative Forms of Finance (Introduction)

excerpt from E. Macchiavello, Microfinance and Financial Inclusion. The Challenge of Regulating Alternative Forms of Finance, Routledge, (July 2017), ISBN 9781138652798

10 Pages Posted: 18 Jul 2017

See all articles by Eugenia Macchiavello

Eugenia Macchiavello

University of Genoa, Department of Law - Section of Business and Economic Law; Genoa Centre for Law and Finance; Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Finance (EUSFiL), University of Genoa

Date Written: December 20, 2016

Abstract

Following the recent global financial crisis there is a growing interest in alternative finance – and microfinance in particular – as new instruments for providing financial services in a socially responsible way or as an alternative to traditional banking. Nonetheless, correspondingly there is also a lack of clarity about how to regulate alternative financial methods particularly in light of the financial crisis’ lessons on regulatory failure and shadow banking’s risks.

This book considers microfinance from a legal and regulatory perspective. Microfinance is the provision of a wide range of financial services, particularly credit but also remittances, savings, to low-income people or financially excluded people. It combines a business structure with social inspiration, often resorts to technological innovations to lower costs (Fintech: e.g. crowdfunding and mobile banking) and merges with traditional local experiences (e.g. financial cooperatives and Islamic finance), this further complicating the regulatory picture. The book describes some of the unique dimensions of microfinance and the difficulties that this can cause for regulators, through a comparative analysis of selected European Union (EU) countries’ regimes. The focus is in fact on the EU legal framework, with some references to certain developing world experiences where relevant. The book assesses the impact and validity of current financial regulation principles and rules, in light of the most recent developments and trends in financial regulation in the wake of the financial crisis and compares microfinance with traditional banking. The book puts forward policy recommendations for regulators and policy makers to help address the challenges and opportunities offered by microfinance.

Keywords: microfinance, financial regulation, shadow banking, FinTech, alternative finance, NBFIs, financial inclusion, credit crunch, banking union, prudential regulation, functional approach, consumer protection, financial cooperatives, financial crisis, interest rate, SMEs, governance, AIFMD, ELTIF,

JEL Classification: F60, F63, F65, K22, G02, G15, G21, G23, 016, O19, O52, Y60

Suggested Citation

Macchiavello, Eugenia, Microfinance and Financial Inclusion. The Challenge of Regulating Alternative Forms of Finance (Introduction) (December 20, 2016). excerpt from E. Macchiavello, Microfinance and Financial Inclusion. The Challenge of Regulating Alternative Forms of Finance, Routledge, (July 2017), ISBN 9781138652798, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3000273 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3000273

Eugenia Macchiavello (Contact Author)

University of Genoa, Department of Law - Section of Business and Economic Law ( email )

Via Balbi 22, 2nd floor
Genova, Genoa 16126
Italy

Genoa Centre for Law and Finance ( email )

Via Balbi, 22
16126 Genova
Italy

HOME PAGE: http://www.clfge.org/teams/eugenia-macchiavello/

Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Finance (EUSFiL), University of Genoa ( email )

Italy

HOME PAGE: http://https://www.eusfil.eu/academic-fellows

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