Title: Microfinance institutions in Africa, Asia, and Latin America: an empirical analysis of operational efficiency, institutional context and costs

Authors: Marco Arnone; Carlo Bellavite Pellegrini; Andrea Messa; Laura Pellegrini; Emiliano Sironi

Addresses: Centre for Macroeconomics and Finance Research – CeMaFiR, Piazza Mirabello, 2, 20121, Milan, Italy ' Department of Economics and Business, Catholic University, Via Necchi 5, 20123 Milan, Italy; Centre for Macroeconomics and Finance Research – CeMaFiR, Piazza Mirabello, 2, 20121, Milan, Italy ' Centre for Macroeconomics and Finance Research – CeMaFiR, Piazza Mirabello, 2, 20121, Milan, Italy ' Department of Economics and Business, Catholic University, Via Necchi 5, 20123 Milan, Italy; Centre for Macroeconomics and Finance Research – CeMaFiR, Piazza Mirabello, 2, 20121, Milan, Italy ' Department of Statistical Sciences, Catholic University, Largo Gemelli 1, 20123 Milan, Italy; 'Paolo Baffi' Centre on Central Banking and Financial Regulation, Bocconi University, Via Roentgen 1, 20136 Milan, Italy

Abstract: This paper presents an empirical analysis of the operational efficiency of microfinance institutions. Using a cross section of 750 microfinance institutions operating in Asia, Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa, the analysis shows that operating costs and efficiency are negatively related. More specifically, operating costs are lower when institutions are more focused on traditional financial aspects of commercial banking, thereby improving their efficiency, and enhancing the development of the sector and the quality of offered services. Successively, the study takes into consideration how these above described relationships are declined in different geographical areas. Additional explanations to the observed outcome highlight the importance of different legal and institutional frameworks and of features of macro-governance.

Keywords: microfinance institutions; operational efficiency; operating costs; Africa; Asia; Latin America; institutional context.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEPEE.2012.051366

International Journal of Economic Policy in Emerging Economies, 2012 Vol.5 No.3, pp.255 - 271

Received: 31 Aug 2012
Accepted: 13 Oct 2012
Published online: 15 Nov 2014 *

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