Simultaneous borrowing and saving in microfinance

Dasgupta, Dyotona and Roy Chowdhury, Prabal (2022) Simultaneous borrowing and saving in microfinance. Oxford Economic Papers, 74 (3). pp. 920-935. ISSN 00307653

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Abstract

This paper provides a rationale for one of the most widely practised mechanisms by microfinance institutions (MFIs) - simultaneous borrowing and saving. Unlike the existing literature, our explanation does not involve any behavioral aspect. We study a dynamic relationship between a benevolent MFI and a borrower who is subject to an ex post moral hazard problem. The optimum contract involves simultaneous borrowing and saving - at each date, the MFI provides a small loan, the borrower invests that in a production technology, and saves the net return with the MFI. These help her to accumulate a lumpsum amount and 'graduate' to an improved lifetime utility which is not achievable when only credit is provided. Over time, as her savings increase, her incentive to repay increases. The optimal loan scheme is weakly progressive, i.e. weakly increasing over time. We also provide a sufficient condition for the non-existence of any incentive compatible contract.

Item Type: Article
Keywords: D86 | G21 | O12 | O16
Subjects: Social Sciences and humanities > Economics, Econometrics and Finance > Economics
JGU School/Centre: Jindal Global Business School
Depositing User: Amees Mohammad
Date Deposited: 14 Jul 2022 03:46
Last Modified: 14 Jul 2022 03:46
Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/oep/gpab062
URI: https://pure.jgu.edu.in/id/eprint/3809

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