Credit risk in the microfinance industry: The role of gender affinity

This study explores the role played by gender in lending trans-actions and specifically its effects on the loan portfolio credit risk of microfinance institutions (MFIs). Using a multicountry data set of developing countries, where MFIs mainly operate, the analy-sis shows that a higher proportion of...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Blanco Oliver, Antonio Jesús, Reguera Alvarado, Nuria, Veronesi, Gianluca
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2021
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Sevilla (US)
Repositorio:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
OAI Identifier:oai:idus.us.es:11441/116573
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/11441/116573
https://doi.org/10.1080/00472778.2020.1844487
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Microfinance
Gender
Entrepreneurship
Descripción
Sumario:This study explores the role played by gender in lending trans-actions and specifically its effects on the loan portfolio credit risk of microfinance institutions (MFIs). Using a multicountry data set of developing countries, where MFIs mainly operate, the analy-sis shows that a higher proportion of female loan officers increases the loan portfolio at risk. Nonetheless, we also find that this positive relationship is negatively mediated by the gender affinity between female loan officers and female bor-rowers. Gender affinity suggests that female loan officers are more likely to lend to female borrowers, and this reduces the default rate of loans offered by MFIs