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For Profit vs. Non Profit Microfinance; How are the poor affected?. Brian R. Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences Spanish Department, College of Business Administration FIREL Department, and Honors College Mentor: Dr. Gloria Cox - Dean of the Honors College
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For Profit vs. Non Profit Microfinance; How are the poor affected? Brian R. Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences Spanish Department, College of Business Administration FIREL Department, and Honors College Mentor: Dr. Gloria Cox - Dean of the Honors College Mentor: Dr. Michael McPherson - College of Arts and Sciences Economics Department
Understanding Poverty • “2.8 billion of the world’s 6 billion people live on less than $2 per day. • 1.2 billion live on less than $1 per day (Anon. 2000/2001,3).” • The Global Village
What is Microfinance? • “Microfinance is banking to the poor (Dr. Muhammad Yunus).” • “Microfinance is the supply of loans, savings, and other financial services to the poor (Kiva).” • 97% repayment rate 2006 Nobel Peace Prize recipient Dr. Muhammad Yunus
Two Approaches of Microfinance • For Profit Approach • Higher interest rates to meet costs (up to 50%) • Stand alone entity (can raise capital easier to reach more people) • No research that says people cannot pay these rates (mission drift) • Non Profit Approach • Lower interest rates (20%) • Offer more services than credit (education, health) • Tendency to be dependent on donors
My theory and hypothesis • Much research is done on determining which method is better. Both approaches are effective within their own scope and setting. • What are the advantages and disadvantages between the two approaches? • How are the poor affected with each approach?
Thesis Methodology • Create 2 case studies of each microfinance approach using institutions within Mexico (Compartamos & AlSol). • Isolate as many variables as possible (age, size, average loan, number of borrowers, country). • Compare and Contrast these case studies in order to draw conclusions.
How will I collect my data? • Industry leader interviews • Institution website • Existing research • Annual reports • Personal visit to Mexico
Plans for the future • Meet with my mentors to discuss drafts. • Scholars Day Presentation (April 3, 2008). • Complete thesis by April 15, 2008.
Acknowledgements • Dr. Susan Eve, Associate Dean of Honors College • Dr. Gloria Cox, Mentor/Dean of Honors College • Dr. McPherson College of Arts and Sciences Economics Department • HNRS Thesis Proposal 3500 class!
References “Attacking Poverty: Opportunity, Empowerment, & Security.” World Bank’s World Development Report (2000/2001): 1-12. http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTPOVERTY/0,,contentMDK:20194762~pagePK:148956~piPK:216618~theSitePK:336992,00.html (accessed October 12, 2007). Flynn, Patrice. “Microfinance: The Newest Financial Technology of the Washington Consensus.” Challenge 50:2 (Spring 2007): 110-21. http://www.econlit/microfinance_washingtonconsensus.com (accessed September 18, 2007). Hermes, Neils and Robert Lensink.“The Empirics of Micro-finance: What do we know?” The Economic Journal 117:517 (Spring 2007): F1-F9. http://dq4wu5nl3d.search.serialssolutions.com/?genre=article&isbn=&issn=00130133&title=Economic+Journal&volume=117&issue=517&date=20070201&atitle=The+Empirics+of+Microfinance%3a+What+Do+We+Know%3f&aulast=Hermes%2c+Niels&spage=F1&sid=EBSCO:EconLit&pid=<authors>Hermes%2c+Niels</authors><ui>0913382</ui><date>20070201</date><db>EconLit</db (accessed September 18, 2007). Kiva Organization Web site. http://www.kiva.org/. Murdoch, Jonathan. “The Microfinance Promise.” Journal of Economic Literature 37 ( December 1999): 1569-1614. Murdoch, Jonathan. “The Microfinance Schism.” World Development 28 (2000): 617-629. The Chiapas Project Web site. http://www.chiapas-project.org Yunus, Muhammad. Banker to the Poor. New York, NY: PublicAffairs, 2003.