This chapter gives the reader an introduction to microfinance and reports how the industry has mo... more This chapter gives the reader an introduction to microfinance and reports how the industry has moved from generally being praised to increasingly being criticized. Particularly, the chapter addresses the concern that microfinance institutions chase profits and are moving away from the poor-customer segments. The authors' findings indicate that rather than being an industry with high profits, the industry struggles with high costs and low earnings. They also find that the focus on serving poor customers did not change over time. Thus, the ‘mission drift’ claim cannot be confirmed.
Until a few years ago, most microfinance research was published in development journals and often... more Until a few years ago, most microfinance research was published in development journals and often focused on whether access to finance is beneficial for economically poor entrepreneurs and families (Mersland, 2009a). Over the last few years the scope of microfinance research has broadened. In particular, the ‘business’ of microfinance has become an important research area (Mersland, 2013a). The central question we seek to answer in this book is what influences the performance of microfinance institutions (MFIs). The book is thus about the business of MFIs.
International ownership positively impacts the social performance of social enterprises at the ex... more International ownership positively impacts the social performance of social enterprises at the expense of financial performance. International owners mostly use their resources and controlling rights to improve social performance at the expense of financial performance. Current ownership theories do not address how the multidimensional utility function might affect the governance and financing of a social enterprise. There is a need to develop theories for firms with conflicting objectives.
This chapter gives the reader an introduction to microfinance and reports how the industry has mo... more This chapter gives the reader an introduction to microfinance and reports how the industry has moved from generally being praised to increasingly being criticized. Particularly, the chapter addresses the concern that microfinance institutions chase profits and are moving away from the poor-customer segments. The authors' findings indicate that rather than being an industry with high profits, the industry struggles with high costs and low earnings. They also find that the focus on serving poor customers did not change over time. Thus, the ‘mission drift’ claim cannot be confirmed.
Until a few years ago, most microfinance research was published in development journals and often... more Until a few years ago, most microfinance research was published in development journals and often focused on whether access to finance is beneficial for economically poor entrepreneurs and families (Mersland, 2009a). Over the last few years the scope of microfinance research has broadened. In particular, the ‘business’ of microfinance has become an important research area (Mersland, 2013a). The central question we seek to answer in this book is what influences the performance of microfinance institutions (MFIs). The book is thus about the business of MFIs.
International ownership positively impacts the social performance of social enterprises at the ex... more International ownership positively impacts the social performance of social enterprises at the expense of financial performance. International owners mostly use their resources and controlling rights to improve social performance at the expense of financial performance. Current ownership theories do not address how the multidimensional utility function might affect the governance and financing of a social enterprise. There is a need to develop theories for firms with conflicting objectives.
1. Innledning Er kristne organisasjoner gode forvaltere? Er de annerledes enn sekulaere organisas... more 1. Innledning Er kristne organisasjoner gode forvaltere? Er de annerledes enn sekulaere organisasjoner? Dette er spørsmål jeg har vaert opptatt av i mange år. Grunnen til at jeg personlig har vaert opptatt av dette er nok at jeg er utdannet økonom og samtidig har mange års arbeidserfaring fra avisen Vårt Land og fra Misjonsalliansen. Begge disser virksomhetene definerer seg som " kristne ". Jeg har også jobbet som konsulent for flere andre kristne bistandsaktører både i Norge og i andre land. 2 I møte med, og som ansatt i, kristne organisasjoner har jeg opplevd stor motivasjon for å stå på ekstra og " jobbe for saken ". Men samtidig har jeg i noen sammenhenger følt på organisasjonskulturer som " baerer over med " svakheter. På en måte har jeg følt at kristne organisasjoner står i spagat. Mens et bein strekker seg mot forvalteransvaret så strekker det andre beinet seg mot tilgivelsen. Motivert av lignelsen om talentene i Bibelen kan vi forvente at kristne organisasjoner har fokus på effektivitet og resultatoppnåelse. Men motivert av lignelsene om Den bortkomne sønn eller Den barmhjertige Samaritaner så er det like naturlig å forvente at kristne organisasjoner gir sine ansatte, sine ledere og sine andre interessenter stadig nye muligheter selv når de har svake resultater å vise til. Fra en forskers ståsted er denne spagaten interessant og den har motivert meg til å skrive dette kapitelet. Vi kan med andre ord argumentere for at kristne organisasjoner bør vaere bedre, det vil si mer effektive og oppnå bedre resultater enn sekulaere organisasjoner, men vi kan også argumentere for at kristne organisasjoner er mindre effektive og oppnår dårligere resultater enn sekulaere organisasjoner. Kristne organisasjoner er aktive i mange bransjer hvor de også konkurrerer med sekulaere organisasjoner. Mediebransjen er allerede nevnt. Helse, sosial, utdanning og bistand er nok de 1 Dette kapitelet refererer og bygger videre på en større studie hvor jeg samarbeider med professorene Magne Supphellen fra Handelshøyskolen i Bergen og Bert d'Espallier fra Hogeschool-Universiteit i Brussel. Sammen jobber vi med å identifisere forskjeller og likheter mellom sekulaere og kristne mikrofinansinstitusjoner. 2 Siden jeg har lang arbeidserfaring fra kristne organisasjoner og virksomheter har jeg i dette kapitelet valgt en langt mer personlig form enn det som er vanlig i forskningsartikler.
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