Sequential lending with dynamic joint liability in micro-finance

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Chowdhury, Shyamal; Chowdhury, Prabal Roy; Sengupta, Kunal
• 署名单位: University of Sydney; Indian Statistical Institute; Indian Statistical Institute Delhi
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0304-3878
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2014.09.002
• 发表日期: 2014
• 页码: 167-180
• 关键词: Collusion; Coordinated default; Dynamic incentives; Frequent repayment; Group-lending; MR competition; Micro-finance; Sequential financing; Social capital; Switch to individual lending

摘要

This paper develops a theory of sequential lending in groups in micro-finance that centers on the notion of dynamic incentives, in particular the simple idea that default incentives should be relatively uniformly distributed across time. In a framework that allows project returns to accrue over time, as well as strategic default, we show that sequential lending can help resolve problems arising out of coordinated default, thus improving project efficiency vis-a-vis individual lending. Inter alia, we also provide a justification for the use of frequent repayment schemes, as well as demonstrate that, depending on how it is manifested, social capital has implications for project efficiency and borrower default. We next examine the optimal choices for the MFI and derive conditions for the optimality of the group lending arrangement. Our framework also provides for some plausible hypotheses as to why there has been a recent transition from group to individual lending. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.