Are Microcredit Borrowers in Bangladesh Over-indebted ?

Microcredit programs in Bangladesh have experienced spectacular growth in recent years, with a growing number of borrowers availing credit from multiple microcredit agencies. There is a growing concern that if there are not sufficient returns to bo...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Khandker, Shahidur R., Faruqee, Rashid, Samad, Hussain A.
Format: Policy Research Working Paper
Language:English
en_US
Published: World Bank, Washington, DC 2013
Subjects:
Online Access:http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2013/08/18111659/microcredit-borrowers-bangladesh-over-indebted-microcredit-borrowers-bangladesh-over-indebted
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/16007
id okr-10986-16007
recordtype oai_dc
repository_type Digital Repository
institution_category Foreign Institution
institution Digital Repositories
building World Bank Open Knowledge Repository
collection World Bank
language English
en_US
topic ACCESS TO CREDIT
ADVERSE EFFECT
ADVERSE SHOCKS
AGRICULTURAL BANKS
AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT BANKS
ARREARS
ASSET RATIO
ASSET VALUES
BANK OF ENGLAND
BANK POLICY
BANKRUPT
BIDS
BORROWER
BUFFER
COMMERCIAL BANK
COMMERCIAL BANKS
CONSUMER CREDIT
CONSUMER GOODS
CONSUMER PROTECTION
CONSUMPTION SMOOTHING
CONTROL VARIABLES
CREDIBILITY
CREDIT BUREAUS
CREDIT CONSTRAINT
CREDIT CONSTRAINTS
CREDIT LIMIT
CREDIT LIMITS
CREDIT MARKETS
CREDIT PROGRAMS
CREDIT RISKS
CREDITWORTHINESS
DEBT
DEBT CONTRACTS
DEBT LIABILITY
DEBT PAYMENT
DEBT PROBLEMS
DEBT RATIOS
DEBT SERVICE
DEBT SERVICING
DEBT SERVICING COSTS
DEBTS
DEFAULT CASES
DEFAULTS
DEMAND FOR CREDIT
DEMAND-SIDE FACTORS
DEPENDENCY RATIO
DEPENDENT
DEPENDENT VARIABLE
DEPENDENTS
DEPOSITS
DEPRESSIONS
DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DISBURSEMENT
DISBURSEMENTS
ECONOMIC CRISIS
ECONOMIC SHOCKS
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
EXPENDITURES
EXPLANATORY VARIABLES
EXPOSURE
EXTERNAL FACTORS
FEDERAL RESERVE
FINANCIAL DISTRESS
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
FINANCIAL SERVICES
FIXED EFFECTS
FOREIGN CURRENCY
FOREIGN CURRENCY MARKETS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
HOLDING
HOUSEHOLD DEBT
HOUSEHOLD DEBTS
HOUSEHOLD INCOME
INCIDENCE OF INDEBTEDNESS
INCOME GENERATION
INCOME-GENERATING ACTIVITIES
INCOMES
INDEBTED
INDEBTED HOUSEHOLDS
INDEBTEDNESS
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS
INFORMAL LOANS
INSOLVENCY
INSOLVENT
INSTITUTIONAL ENVIRONMENT
INSTRUMENT
INTEREST RATE
INTEREST RATES
INTERNATIONAL BANK
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY
IRRESPONSIBLE BORROWING
JUDGMENT
JUDICIAL EFFICIENCY
LAND ASSET
LAND ASSETS
LEGAL ENVIRONMENT
LENDER
LENDERS
LEVEL OF INDEBTEDNESS
LEVEL OF REPAYMENT
LIABILITY
LIQUIDITY
LIQUIDITY PROBLEMS
LOAN
LOAN AGREEMENTS
LOAN AMOUNT
LOAN APPROVALS
LOAN CONTRACTS
LOAN MATURITY
LOAN PAYMENT
LOAN PORTFOLIO
LOAN PORTFOLIOS
LONG-TERM BORROWING
LONG-TERM DEBT
MARKET INFORMATION
MATURITIES
MICRO CREDIT
MICRO-CREDIT
MICRO-INSURANCE
MICROCREDIT
MICROFINANCE
MICROFINANCE INSTITUTION
MICROFINANCE INSTITUTIONS
NATURAL DISASTERS
NET ASSETS
NET SAVINGS
OUTSTANDING LOANS
PAYMENT OBLIGATIONS
PAYMENT SERVICES
PORTFOLIO GROWTH
POVERTY ALLEVIATION
POVERTY REDUCTION
PRIVATE INVESTMENT
PRODUCTIVE INVESTMENTS
RATES OF INTEREST
REGULATORY REFORM
REORGANIZATION
REPAYMENT
REPAYMENT BEHAVIOR
REPAYMENT CAPACITY
REPAYMENT RATES
REPAYMENTS
RETURN
RETURNS
RISK MANAGEMENT
RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
SEIZURE
SEIZURE OF ASSETS
SHOCKS TO INCOME
SHORT-TERM LIABILITY
STANDARD DEVIATIONS
STOCKS
SUPPLY OF CREDIT
SUPPLY SIDE
SUPPLY SIDES
SUPPLY-SIDE
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
UNSECURED DEBT
VALUE OF ASSETS
WAGE RATES
poverty
spellingShingle ACCESS TO CREDIT
ADVERSE EFFECT
ADVERSE SHOCKS
AGRICULTURAL BANKS
AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT BANKS
ARREARS
ASSET RATIO
ASSET VALUES
BANK OF ENGLAND
BANK POLICY
BANKRUPT
BIDS
BORROWER
BUFFER
COMMERCIAL BANK
COMMERCIAL BANKS
CONSUMER CREDIT
CONSUMER GOODS
CONSUMER PROTECTION
CONSUMPTION SMOOTHING
CONTROL VARIABLES
CREDIBILITY
CREDIT BUREAUS
CREDIT CONSTRAINT
CREDIT CONSTRAINTS
CREDIT LIMIT
CREDIT LIMITS
CREDIT MARKETS
CREDIT PROGRAMS
CREDIT RISKS
CREDITWORTHINESS
DEBT
DEBT CONTRACTS
DEBT LIABILITY
DEBT PAYMENT
DEBT PROBLEMS
DEBT RATIOS
DEBT SERVICE
DEBT SERVICING
DEBT SERVICING COSTS
DEBTS
DEFAULT CASES
DEFAULTS
DEMAND FOR CREDIT
DEMAND-SIDE FACTORS
DEPENDENCY RATIO
DEPENDENT
DEPENDENT VARIABLE
DEPENDENTS
DEPOSITS
DEPRESSIONS
DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DISBURSEMENT
DISBURSEMENTS
ECONOMIC CRISIS
ECONOMIC SHOCKS
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
EXPENDITURES
EXPLANATORY VARIABLES
EXPOSURE
EXTERNAL FACTORS
FEDERAL RESERVE
FINANCIAL DISTRESS
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
FINANCIAL SERVICES
FIXED EFFECTS
FOREIGN CURRENCY
FOREIGN CURRENCY MARKETS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
HOLDING
HOUSEHOLD DEBT
HOUSEHOLD DEBTS
HOUSEHOLD INCOME
INCIDENCE OF INDEBTEDNESS
INCOME GENERATION
INCOME-GENERATING ACTIVITIES
INCOMES
INDEBTED
INDEBTED HOUSEHOLDS
INDEBTEDNESS
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS
INFORMAL LOANS
INSOLVENCY
INSOLVENT
INSTITUTIONAL ENVIRONMENT
INSTRUMENT
INTEREST RATE
INTEREST RATES
INTERNATIONAL BANK
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY
IRRESPONSIBLE BORROWING
JUDGMENT
JUDICIAL EFFICIENCY
LAND ASSET
LAND ASSETS
LEGAL ENVIRONMENT
LENDER
LENDERS
LEVEL OF INDEBTEDNESS
LEVEL OF REPAYMENT
LIABILITY
LIQUIDITY
LIQUIDITY PROBLEMS
LOAN
LOAN AGREEMENTS
LOAN AMOUNT
LOAN APPROVALS
LOAN CONTRACTS
LOAN MATURITY
LOAN PAYMENT
LOAN PORTFOLIO
LOAN PORTFOLIOS
LONG-TERM BORROWING
LONG-TERM DEBT
MARKET INFORMATION
MATURITIES
MICRO CREDIT
MICRO-CREDIT
MICRO-INSURANCE
MICROCREDIT
MICROFINANCE
MICROFINANCE INSTITUTION
MICROFINANCE INSTITUTIONS
NATURAL DISASTERS
NET ASSETS
NET SAVINGS
OUTSTANDING LOANS
PAYMENT OBLIGATIONS
PAYMENT SERVICES
PORTFOLIO GROWTH
POVERTY ALLEVIATION
POVERTY REDUCTION
PRIVATE INVESTMENT
PRODUCTIVE INVESTMENTS
RATES OF INTEREST
REGULATORY REFORM
REORGANIZATION
REPAYMENT
REPAYMENT BEHAVIOR
REPAYMENT CAPACITY
REPAYMENT RATES
REPAYMENTS
RETURN
RETURNS
RISK MANAGEMENT
RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
SEIZURE
SEIZURE OF ASSETS
SHOCKS TO INCOME
SHORT-TERM LIABILITY
STANDARD DEVIATIONS
STOCKS
SUPPLY OF CREDIT
SUPPLY SIDE
SUPPLY SIDES
SUPPLY-SIDE
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
UNSECURED DEBT
VALUE OF ASSETS
WAGE RATES
poverty
Khandker, Shahidur R.
Faruqee, Rashid
Samad, Hussain A.
Are Microcredit Borrowers in Bangladesh Over-indebted ?
geographic_facet South Asia
Bangladesh
relation Policy Research Working Paper;No. 6574
description Microcredit programs in Bangladesh have experienced spectacular growth in recent years, with a growing number of borrowers availing credit from multiple microcredit agencies. There is a growing concern that if there are not sufficient returns to borrowing from microfinance institutions (MFIS), some borrowers might be taking loans that they will not be able to repay. A household may be considered over-indebted, for example, if its debt liability exceeds 40 percent of its income or assets. Using a long panel of household survey data from Bangladesh, the paper finds that some 26 percent of microcredit borrowers are over-indebted on this measure versus 22 percent of non-microcredit borrowers. Econometric analysis suggests that both MFI competition and multiple borrowing raise indebtedness. However, repeated borrowing, while it affects short-term liability adversely, does affect the long-term debt-asset ratio favorably. That is, repeated borrowing helps increase assets more than debt over time. Microcredit borrowers in Bangladesh are thus not necessarily over-indebted. But when borrowing is seen as protection against shocks such as floods even at the cost of being indebted, MFIs may offer micro-insurance schemes to safeguard borrowers against economic shocks.
format Publications & Research :: Policy Research Working Paper
author Khandker, Shahidur R.
Faruqee, Rashid
Samad, Hussain A.
author_facet Khandker, Shahidur R.
Faruqee, Rashid
Samad, Hussain A.
author_sort Khandker, Shahidur R.
title Are Microcredit Borrowers in Bangladesh Over-indebted ?
title_short Are Microcredit Borrowers in Bangladesh Over-indebted ?
title_full Are Microcredit Borrowers in Bangladesh Over-indebted ?
title_fullStr Are Microcredit Borrowers in Bangladesh Over-indebted ?
title_full_unstemmed Are Microcredit Borrowers in Bangladesh Over-indebted ?
title_sort are microcredit borrowers in bangladesh over-indebted ?
publisher World Bank, Washington, DC
publishDate 2013
url http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2013/08/18111659/microcredit-borrowers-bangladesh-over-indebted-microcredit-borrowers-bangladesh-over-indebted
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/16007
_version_ 1764432010277814272
spelling okr-10986-160072021-04-23T14:03:27Z Are Microcredit Borrowers in Bangladesh Over-indebted ? Khandker, Shahidur R. Faruqee, Rashid Samad, Hussain A. ACCESS TO CREDIT ADVERSE EFFECT ADVERSE SHOCKS AGRICULTURAL BANKS AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT BANKS ARREARS ASSET RATIO ASSET VALUES BANK OF ENGLAND BANK POLICY BANKRUPT BIDS BORROWER BUFFER COMMERCIAL BANK COMMERCIAL BANKS CONSUMER CREDIT CONSUMER GOODS CONSUMER PROTECTION CONSUMPTION SMOOTHING CONTROL VARIABLES CREDIBILITY CREDIT BUREAUS CREDIT CONSTRAINT CREDIT CONSTRAINTS CREDIT LIMIT CREDIT LIMITS CREDIT MARKETS CREDIT PROGRAMS CREDIT RISKS CREDITWORTHINESS DEBT DEBT CONTRACTS DEBT LIABILITY DEBT PAYMENT DEBT PROBLEMS DEBT RATIOS DEBT SERVICE DEBT SERVICING DEBT SERVICING COSTS DEBTS DEFAULT CASES DEFAULTS DEMAND FOR CREDIT DEMAND-SIDE FACTORS DEPENDENCY RATIO DEPENDENT DEPENDENT VARIABLE DEPENDENTS DEPOSITS DEPRESSIONS DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS DEVELOPING COUNTRIES DISBURSEMENT DISBURSEMENTS ECONOMIC CRISIS ECONOMIC SHOCKS ENTREPRENEURSHIP ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS EXPENDITURES EXPLANATORY VARIABLES EXPOSURE EXTERNAL FACTORS FEDERAL RESERVE FINANCIAL DISTRESS FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FINANCIAL SERVICES FIXED EFFECTS FOREIGN CURRENCY FOREIGN CURRENCY MARKETS GOVERNMENT POLICIES HOLDING HOUSEHOLD DEBT HOUSEHOLD DEBTS HOUSEHOLD INCOME INCIDENCE OF INDEBTEDNESS INCOME GENERATION INCOME-GENERATING ACTIVITIES INCOMES INDEBTED INDEBTED HOUSEHOLDS INDEBTEDNESS INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS INFORMAL LOANS INSOLVENCY INSOLVENT INSTITUTIONAL ENVIRONMENT INSTRUMENT INTEREST RATE INTEREST RATES INTERNATIONAL BANK INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY IRRESPONSIBLE BORROWING JUDGMENT JUDICIAL EFFICIENCY LAND ASSET LAND ASSETS LEGAL ENVIRONMENT LENDER LENDERS LEVEL OF INDEBTEDNESS LEVEL OF REPAYMENT LIABILITY LIQUIDITY LIQUIDITY PROBLEMS LOAN LOAN AGREEMENTS LOAN AMOUNT LOAN APPROVALS LOAN CONTRACTS LOAN MATURITY LOAN PAYMENT LOAN PORTFOLIO LOAN PORTFOLIOS LONG-TERM BORROWING LONG-TERM DEBT MARKET INFORMATION MATURITIES MICRO CREDIT MICRO-CREDIT MICRO-INSURANCE MICROCREDIT MICROFINANCE MICROFINANCE INSTITUTION MICROFINANCE INSTITUTIONS NATURAL DISASTERS NET ASSETS NET SAVINGS OUTSTANDING LOANS PAYMENT OBLIGATIONS PAYMENT SERVICES PORTFOLIO GROWTH POVERTY ALLEVIATION POVERTY REDUCTION PRIVATE INVESTMENT PRODUCTIVE INVESTMENTS RATES OF INTEREST REGULATORY REFORM REORGANIZATION REPAYMENT REPAYMENT BEHAVIOR REPAYMENT CAPACITY REPAYMENT RATES REPAYMENTS RETURN RETURNS RISK MANAGEMENT RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES SEIZURE SEIZURE OF ASSETS SHOCKS TO INCOME SHORT-TERM LIABILITY STANDARD DEVIATIONS STOCKS SUPPLY OF CREDIT SUPPLY SIDE SUPPLY SIDES SUPPLY-SIDE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT UNSECURED DEBT VALUE OF ASSETS WAGE RATES poverty Microcredit programs in Bangladesh have experienced spectacular growth in recent years, with a growing number of borrowers availing credit from multiple microcredit agencies. There is a growing concern that if there are not sufficient returns to borrowing from microfinance institutions (MFIS), some borrowers might be taking loans that they will not be able to repay. A household may be considered over-indebted, for example, if its debt liability exceeds 40 percent of its income or assets. Using a long panel of household survey data from Bangladesh, the paper finds that some 26 percent of microcredit borrowers are over-indebted on this measure versus 22 percent of non-microcredit borrowers. Econometric analysis suggests that both MFI competition and multiple borrowing raise indebtedness. However, repeated borrowing, while it affects short-term liability adversely, does affect the long-term debt-asset ratio favorably. That is, repeated borrowing helps increase assets more than debt over time. Microcredit borrowers in Bangladesh are thus not necessarily over-indebted. But when borrowing is seen as protection against shocks such as floods even at the cost of being indebted, MFIs may offer micro-insurance schemes to safeguard borrowers against economic shocks. 2013-10-02T13:59:22Z 2013-10-02T13:59:22Z 2013-08 http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2013/08/18111659/microcredit-borrowers-bangladesh-over-indebted-microcredit-borrowers-bangladesh-over-indebted http://hdl.handle.net/10986/16007 English en_US Policy Research Working Paper;No. 6574 CC BY 3.0 IGO http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/ World Bank World Bank, Washington, DC Publications & Research :: Policy Research Working Paper Publications & Research South Asia Bangladesh