• Asian Journal of Business Environment
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• 제6권3호
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• pp.11-14
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• 2016

Purpose - Microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Bangladesh have been providing savings services to their clients at least for the past 15 years. However, whether an MFI should have institutional requirement(s) to be a deposit-taker generates interest among academics and policy makers. Thus, this short note aims to provide a brief overview of institutional properties of MFIs. Research Design, Data, and Methodology - This study used the existing literature and reports by the Microcredit Regulatory Authority' to investigate institutional properties of MFIs. In doing so, we have used 'institutional theory of saving' as a theoretical ground. Although the 'institutional theory of saving' has several important properties, the existing literature mostly discusses seven features such as information, incentives, facilitation, expectation, access, restrictions and security. Results - It is found that MFIs- in general- should have all the seven important institutional properties to be considered as an ideal savings institution. With regards to the microfinance sector in Bangladesh, this study supports that all the NGO-MFIs have these properties to be considered as an ideal deposit taker. Conclusions - The microfinance sector in Bangladesh needs to design and develop comprehensive and customer friendly savings products to further motivate the poor to save in MFIs.

• Asian Journal of Business Environment
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• 제10권3호
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• pp.13-22
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• 2020

Purpose: Vietnam's financial sector has grown substantially but microfinance institutions (MFIs) still face up many challenges in providing financial services to underserved customer segments, including small businesses, rural populations, and urban migrants. The recent worldwide explosion of fintech, including in Vietnam, promises to fill this gap. The purpose of this paper is to analyze fintech activities in microfinance sector and recommend for fintech adoption of MFIs in Vietnam. Research Design, Data and Methodology: The paper's data is mainly based on international organizations such as Asia Development Bank (ADB), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Vietnamese organizations such as Vietnam Microfinance Working Group. The authors suggest new directions for microfinance activities in Vietnam. Results: In recent years, the application of fintech in microfinance sector has brought many good results, such as improving the quality of products and services, easy access to many customer groups, and scaling up the operating model. Conclusion: MFIs in Vietnam have developed new products and services by applying fintech. The application of technology and digital solution has supported MFIs in Vietnam to gradually achieve targeted growth through expanding geographical inclusion/scale, enhancing product supply/provision, helping in-depth customer understanding as well as improving operational efficiency.

• Asian Journal of Business Environment
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.37-43
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between portfolio quality and financial sustainability of microfinance institutions in Kenya. Research Design, Data, and Methodology: The analysis was based on a panel dataset of 30 microfinance institutions for the period of 2010 to 2018. Data was obtained from the Microfinance information exchange (MIX) database, and it was analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics with the aid of STATA. Based on the results of the Hausman test, the study adopted the fixed effect regression model to test the research hypothesis. Results: The study found that portfolio quality had a positive significant effect on financial sustainability of Microfinance institutions in Kenya (β= 0. 211; p-value < 0.05). For the control variables; firm age had a positive effect (β= 0.773; p-value <0.05), while firm size (β= -0. 749; p-value < 0.05) had a negative effect on financial sustainability. Conclusions: The study concluded that portfolio quality has an important influence on the financial sustainability of microfinance institution. The study recommends that managers of microfinance institutions should devise good collection policies to improve portfolio quality while lessening loan default rate. The portfolio quality may improve the overall profitability and enhance investor confidence in their strategic decision-making on refinancing.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• 제8권5호
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• pp.1147-1154
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• 2021

The study aimed to investigate the impact of the microfinance program on loan borrowers' asset accumulation. In doing this, the study used descriptive and statistical methods to achieve the objectives. Primary data were collected from 192 respondents from Bangladesh using survey questionnaires. The data were analyzed using the multiple linear regression model. The result revealed that the majority of the borrowers said their assets such as farm, land, and livestock remained the same, which implies that microfinance borrowers still lag behind accumulating household assets. However, in the case of housing conditions and household appliances, there was a marginal increase. The regression result provides evidence that, among other factors, the amount of loan received from microfinance institutions and time duration with them is the most significant role-playing factor for borrower's sustainable well-being. The age and education level of borrowers are identified as positively related to asset accumulations, but not substantially so. Moreover, training provided by microfinance institutions is not effective and influential for microfinance borrowers' wealth accumulation, which is evidenced by the findings. This study's insights are worthwhile for any microfinance institution's decision-makers, development partners, and government to stress the shortcomings and accelerate the borrower's wealth status.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• 제8권3호
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• pp.821-832
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• 2021

Economic deprivation of households remains a significant economic issue in the world. Researchers have shown great concern in identifying crucial factors to enhance poor households' socio-economic performance. Therefore, this paper aims to develop a new conceptual framework to investigate the influence of different microfinance services on households' socioeconomic performance using moderated mediation analysis of various crucial factors. Focus-group interviews with managements of the microfinance institution, i.e. Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM), and a systematic literature review were conducted for this purpose, and a new framework for the future study has been developed. The result from focus-group interviews and systematic literature review propose microfinance financial services, training programs, and business coaching as independent factors, whereas household socioeconomic performance as a dependent factor in the proposed model. Specifically, this study provides the direction to scholars to empirically test the direct relationship between financial services and household socioeconomic performance and the indirect relationship between training programs, business coaching, and household socioeconomic performance. Further, microfinance institutions' service efficiency is also included as a moderator that can strengthen microfinance services' effectiveness. The study also provides useful implications for policymakers, financial institutions, households, micro-enterprises, and researchers to better understand microfinance interventions and household economic mechanisms.

• 동아시아경상학회지
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• 제2권3호
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• pp.23-32
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• 2014

Even though Islamic microfinance has flourished in the last two decades, still it faces some problems related to its sustainability and outreach. Market orientation has generally developed some strategies for organizations aiming to retain the current customers and attract new ones. In addition, organizations, which are addressed as Islamic, should be Shariah-compliant in all aspects. This paper introduces the market orientation concept which is adapted to Shariah rules and recommends a solution for sustainability problems of Islamic microfinance institutions. Current study tries to provide some intangible instances and evidences to introduce and use Islamic market orientation concept for Islamic microfinance institutions, in particular.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• 제7권12호
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• pp.773-782
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• 2020

The research objectives are to study the implementation of Islamic Corporate Social Responsibility (i-CSR) values in BMT UGT Sidogiri, an Islamic microfinance institution in Indonesia based on Islamic boarding school or pesantren. This research employed a post-positivist paradigm. Data observation was performed by conducting an in-depth interview with several informants. The data analysis utilized an interactive model technique. The research results showed that i-CSR was successfully implemented in the Islamic microfinance institution based on Islamic boarding school due to the mutual passion (convergence) with conventional CSR typologies. The convergence is in two ways, firstly managerial behavior that focuses on protecting company stakeholders, second, creating sustainable corporate values through effective and efficient business activities. The orientation is the creation of a social role based on justice and sustainable development. The convergence is mainly in the dimensions of economic, legal, ethical and philanthropic responsibilities. The Islamic values have enriched the implementation of i-CSR as the form of practicing the teachings of Islam and evidence of human servitude to God so that the behaviors become worthy of worship. The implementation of i-CSR focused on the Islamic teachings. Compliance to Islamic jurisprudence and apply it in business activities became a divergent element of conventional CSR concept.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• 제8권5호
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• pp.807-815
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• 2021

Microfinance is seen as a tool for poverty elimination by providing various services characterized as financial and non-financial to minority groups in the society to be included in the mainstream financial system. This paper seeks to examine the effect of microfinance institutions' (MFIs) financial and non-financial services on women's entrepreneurship and empowerment in Jordan as a developing country. To gain a deeper understanding of the effectiveness of microfinance services, the study is undertaken to address the question of what kinds of services are available and whether the MFI services are in line with the actual needs of women entrepreneurs to improve their performance. Hence, a qualitative approach was adopted in this study using semi-structured interview questions to collect data from twenty-four women entrepreneurs in Jordan. The results showed that, as regards financial services, the most important needs of women entrepreneurs include providing adequate financing with necessary financial facilities such as reducing interest, reducing monthly installments, and extending the grace period, while non-financial services should include holding specialized courses, accessing a counseling center, providing incentives and psychological support, marketing support, and monitoring and evaluation. This study concluded that factors associated with MFI play a crucial role to uplift women entrepreneurs and eliminate gender inequality.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• 제8권4호
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• pp.549-561
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• 2021

This study aims to identify the role of organizational behavior and intellectual capital on risk management implementation and Village Credit Institutions (called LPD) performance. The LPD population is 1,256 units spread across nine districts/cities in Bali. This research was conducted at the LPD as the only microfinance institution based on local wisdom in traditional villages in Bali Province, Indonesia. Based on sampling using the Slovin method, there were 139 LPD as sampled in this study. The respondent in this study was the Head of the LPD. LPD performance measurement is using the balanced scorecard method that combines financial and non-financial aspects. This study also investigates risk management's role as a mediator in the relationship between organizational behavior and intellectual capital on the LPD performance. Methods of data collection using a survey. The questionnaire was given to 139 LPD chairman who was respondents in this survey. The data analysis technique used SEM-PLS. This study succeeded in confirming Resource-Based View Theory that organizational behavior and intellectual capital affect risk management and organization performance. These results also prove risk management's role as a mediation for the relationship between organizational behavior and intellectual capital on organizational performance.

• 아태비즈니스연구
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.91-107
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• 2022

Purpose - This study quantitatively examines the level of financial inclusion of a microfinance institution in each region and how this is changing recently, and examines the level of financial inclusion by region and various financial characteristic factors related to it. It was empirically verified what kind of significant impact actually has on the institution's major management performance indicators (stability, profitability, efficiency, and public interest). Design/methodology/approach - It was confirmed that the institution's financial inclusion index declined rapidly after 2015 as a whole, although there were some differences by region depending on regional characteristics. However, considering the fact that the number of branches per 100,000 adult population is steadily increasing nationwide, it was found that, contrary to what is known, the simple decrease in the number of branches of the institution was not the main cause. Findings - The analysis results of this study show that the institution's efforts for financial inclusion have a positive impact on profitability, stability, efficiency, and public interest, and that the institution pursues profitability, efficiency, stability, and public interest. showed that some trade-offs exist. In other words, overall, it was analyzed that profitability of the institution has a positive effect on efficiency, and efficiency has a positive effect on stability and public interest. Research implications or Originality - Since the institution's efforts to improve its profitability do not have a negative impact on its stability and public interest, it is judged that it is important to take a strategic stance, so excessive loan supply that exceeds the scope of the institution's own control needs to be avoided as much as possible. More detailed financial supply strategies and business management capabilities that enhance the asset soundness and management efficiency of safes need to be demonstrated.