scholarly journals Outreach and sustainability of inventory credit programme in Ghana

2011 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-164
Author(s):  
Ebo Onumah ◽  
Acquah De-Graft
Keyword(s):  
Lower Cost ◽  
Financial Sustainability ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Cost Structures ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Performance Benchmarks ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
Low Efficiency ◽  
Loan Size ◽  
Female Clients

The study examined the outreach and sustainability of the inventory credit programme (ICP) in Ghana using both qualitative and quantitative data between 1996 and 2003. The findings revealed that the outreach of the ICP reached the poor with a depth of 25-47% (nationwide) measured in terms of loan size/GNP per capita. The outreach measured in terms of percentage of female clients served was initially 20%, but fairly increased to 59% over the study period. However, a comparative analysis with two successful MFIs in Ghana and standardized performance benchmarks indicate that the ICP did not perform well in reaching the very poor. The results of the financial performance indicate that the ICP was operationally and financially sustainable. Further, the study showed that the ICP had high loan recovery rate which underlies its profitability. However, the ICP operated with a low efficiency measured in terms of adjusted operational expenses ratio. Based on these findings the study concludes that there is a trade-off between outreach to the poorest and a financial sustainability of the ICP which can be mitigated by the enhanced credit allocation through lower cost structures.

scholarly journals Modeling the Propensity to Default on Microloans in Mali, Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 97
Author(s):  
Julia R. Norgaard
Keyword(s):  
Poverty Alleviation ◽  
Historical Data ◽  
Educational Background ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Microfinance Institutions ◽  
Loan Repayment ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Default Rates ◽  
Loan Size

Microfinance is a global phenomenon that is focused on sustainable poverty alleviation.  By providing people in developing countries with the capital to sustain themselves and an educational background on which to build their futures, microfinance institutions (MFIs) have given the poor an opportunity to get out of poverty.  For the purposes of this study, a specific MFI in Mali Africa was utilized to model the propensity for micro-borrowers to default on their loans.  Using the MFI’s historical data on each of their loans, this study models the repayment percentage of individual loans, contingent upon qualitative and quantitative factors.  Employing an Ordinary Least Squares Model I am able to analyze how each independent factor influences default rates.  I also harness fuzzy analysis to group together factors that contribute to high default rates.  I hypothesize that high default rates were encouraged by a longer time between payments, a large initial loan size, business development in investment heavy industries, and starting a business in a hostile market environment.  By utilizing these results, the MFI can optimize its loan repayment success by targeting specific borrowers and modifying their loan structure. The purpose of this study is to provide the Mali MFI with tangible results that they can utilize to increase their loaning effectiveness.  This model is important because microfinance is a relatively new field and 3it seeks to improve the Mali MFI’s poverty alleviating capacity.  

Synthesis of red/black phosphorus-based composite nanosheets with Z-scheme heterostructure for high-performance cancer phototherapy

Nanoscale ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Kang ◽  
Zhengjun Li ◽  
Fengying Lu ◽  
Zhiguo Su ◽  
Xiaoyuan Ji ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
Research Field ◽  
Black Phosphorus ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Low Efficiency ◽  
Poor Stability

Two dimensional black phosphorus nanosheets (BP NS) have attracted plenty of attentions in the research field of cancer photonic therapy. However, the poor stability and relatively low efficiency in reactive...

scholarly journals Targeting the Poor: Evidence from a Field Experiment in Indonesia

2012 ◽  
Vol 102 (4) ◽  
pp. 1206-1240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vivi Alatas ◽  
Abhijit Banerjee ◽  
Rema Hanna ◽  
Benjamin A Olken ◽  
Julia Tobias
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiment ◽  
Capita Consumption ◽  
Elite Capture ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
Consumption Community ◽  
Per Capita Consumption

This paper reports an experiment in 640 Indonesian villages on three approaches to target the poor: proxy means tests (PMT), where assets are used to predict consumption; community targeting, where villagers rank everyone from richest to poorest; and a hybrid. Defining poverty based on PPP$2 per capita consumption, community targeting and the hybrid perform somewhat worse in identifying the poor than PMT, though not by enough to significantly affect poverty outcomes for a typical program. Elite capture does not explain these results. Instead, communities appear to apply a different concept of poverty. Consistent with this finding, community targeting results in higher satisfaction. (JEL C93, I32, I38, O12, O15, O18, R23)

scholarly journals Using fuzzy logic for evaluating the level of countries’ (regions’) economic development

2012 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 293-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gordan Stojic
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Economic Development ◽  
Fuzzy Logic ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Gdp Per Capita ◽  
Industrial Growth ◽  
The Poor ◽  
The World ◽  
Level Of Economic Development ◽  
Per Capita

There are several divisions of countries and regions in the world. Besides geo-political divisions, there also are economic divisions. The most common economic division is the that on developed countries and the poor ones. These divisions are a consequence of the level of: GDP, GDP per capita, unemployment rate, industrial growth, and so on. The question is how to define a mathematical model based on which the following will be assessed: who is rich and who is poor, or who is economically developed and who is not? How the boundaries of transition from one category to another can be defined? This paper presents a model for evaluating the level of economic development of countries and regions using "fuzzy" logic. The model was tested on a sample of 19 EU member countries and aspirants for membership.

scholarly journals Productivity and Institutions

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 375
Author(s):  
Gylfi Zoega
Keyword(s):  
19Th Century ◽  
Legal System ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Lower Cost ◽  
Standard Of Living ◽  
Gdp Per Capita ◽  
Past Century ◽  
High Productivity ◽  
The Past ◽  
Per Capita

Differences in productivity account for differences in output per capita between countries as well as changes in output and the standard of living for each country over long periods of time. During the first industrial revolution, one could already see the emergence of two groups of countries: the high- and the low-GDP per capita countries. The list of countries belonging to the highproductivity group has not changed much over the past century. Differences in institutions separate the two clubs. The high-productivity group is, amongst many other differences, characterized by less corruption, a better legal system, superior enforcement of contracts, a lower cost of starting a business and lower tariffs. Historical output series for Britain going back to the mid-19th century show that productivity has increased greatly and improved the standard of living.

scholarly journals Variation in the prices of oncology medicines across Europe and the implications for the future

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 72-82
Author(s):  
Brian Godman ◽  
Steven Simoens ◽  
Amanj Kurdi ◽  
Gisbert Selke ◽  
John Yfantopoulos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Size ◽  
Patent Protection ◽  
Lower Cost ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
Oral Oncology ◽  
Over Time ◽  
Ageing Populations

Introduction/Objectives: Health authorities are facing increasing challenges to the sustainability of their healthcare systems because of the growing expenditures on medicines, including new, high-priced oncology medicines, and changes in disease prevalence in their ageing populations. Medicine prices in European countries are greatly affected by the ability to negotiate reasonable prices. Concerns have been expressed that prices of patented medicines do not fall sufficiently after the introduction of lower-cost generic oncology medicines. The objective of this study was to examine the associations over time in selected European countries between the prices of oral oncology medicines, population size, and gross domestic product (GDP) before and after the introduction of generic versions. Evidence of periodic reassessments of the price, value, and place in treatment of these medicines was also looked for. The goal of this review was to stimulate debate about possible improvements in approaches to reimbursement negotiations. Methodology: Analysis was performed of reimbursed prices of three oral oncology medicines (imatinib, erlotinib and fludarabine) between 2013 and 2017 across Europe. Correlations were explored between GDP, population size, and prices. Findings were compared with previous research regarding prices of generic oral oncology medicines. Results: The prices of imatinib, erlotinib and fludarabine varied among European countries, and there was limited price erosion over time in the absence of generics. There appeared to be no correlation between population size and price, but higher prices of on-patent oral cancer medicines were seen among countries with higher GDP per capita. Conclusion: Limited price erosion for patented medicines contributed to increases in oncology medicine budgets across the region. There was also a concerning lack of evidence re-assessments of the price, value, and place in treatment of patented oncology medicines following the loss of patent protection of standard medicines. The use of such proactive re-assessments in negotiating tactics might positively impact global expenditures for oncology medicines.

Nonviral Vehicles for Gene Delivery

Nano LIFE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (02) ◽  
pp. 2130002
Author(s):  
Eric Warga ◽  
Brian Austin-Carter ◽  
Noelle Comolli ◽  
Jacob Elmer
Keyword(s):  
Gene Delivery ◽  
Lower Cost ◽  
Clinical Applications ◽  
Inorganic Nanoparticles ◽  
Nonviral Gene Delivery ◽  
Viral Gene ◽  
Cationic Polymers ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Low Efficiency ◽  
Viral Gene Delivery

Nonviral gene delivery (NVGD) is an appealing alternative to viral gene delivery for clinical applications due to its lower cost and increased safety. A variety of promising nonviral vectors are under development, including cationic polymers, lipids, lipid-polymer hybrids (LPHs) and inorganic nanoparticles. However, some NVGD strategies have disadvantages that have limited their adoption, including high toxicity and low efficiency. This review focuses on the most common NVGD vehicles with an emphasis on recent developments in the field.

Rationalizing Sport Spectatorship

2018 ◽  
pp. 350-385
Author(s):  
Shankar Selvam
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
The Poor

This chapter aligns itself with spectatorship theories to identify possible causes for the poor spectatorship numbers observed at S-League matches. Taking into account club affiliations among spectators and how such relationships affect the fortunes of a club's following, relevant theories are discussed in the context of the sports situation in Singapore. Qualitative and quantitative components pertaining to S-League spectatorship are analysed, which serve as the basis for the recommendations presented on improving attendance at local football matches.

scholarly journals Social and financial performance of MFIs: complementary or compromise?

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nitin Navin ◽  
Pankaj Sinha
Keyword(s):  
Financial Performance ◽  
Financial Sustainability ◽  
Microfinance Institutions ◽  
Current Time ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Dynamic Framework ◽  
The Social ◽  
Loan Size ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose With the ongoing transformation of the microfinance sector, questions have been raised on the ability of microfinance institutions (MFIs) to perform financially well without compromising with their social objectives. The current study attempts to analyse the social and financial performance of Indian MFIs with an objective to find the kind of relationship between these two objectives. Design/methodology/approach The dynamic framework of simultaneous equations model is used to find the nature of the relationship which exists between social and financial performance of Indian MFIs. Findings The study finds that depth of outreach enables MFIs to achieve financial sustainability. On the other hand, financially strong MFI lend more as reflected by an increase in their average loan size. Research limitations/implications Many MFIs still receive subsidies to support their operations. Ideally, adjustments should be made to remove the effect of such subsidies on their cost. However, due to non-availability of data, the study fails to make any adjustment for the subsidies. Practical implications The presence of a complementary relationship between social and financial performance in the Indian microfinance sector is quite encouraging for the policymakers during the current time when the sector is becoming less dependent on subsidies. However, the recent upsurge in the average loan size requires attention. Social implications The findings suggest that MFIs can achieve financial sustainability while targeting poor clients. This indicates that MFIs can perform socially good along with their financial performance. Originality/value Such study is vital when the Indian microfinance sector is moving away from subsidies to become self-reliant and commercialised. Few studies have focused on this aspect of Indian microfinance sector.

Hello, I am calling to ask for some money: mobile phones and credit uptake in rural Ethiopia

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 457-480
Author(s):  
Aregawi Gebremedhin Gebremariam
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Control Function ◽  
Spillover Effects ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
Rural Poor ◽  
Positive Role ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Loan Size

PurposeIt is widely believed that ICT has a significant influence on the daily life of the poor and has positive spillover effects in their livelihoods. Mobile phones are one of the few ICT innovations that have found their way into the hands of the poor residing in remote and rural areas. In Ethiopia, mobile phones are recently introduced but got an acceptance from everyone including the rural poor; in five years’ time, mobile phones subscription has increased from less than 4% to more than 40%. Empirical evidence generally documents the positive role mobile phones play in facilitating the development efforts of poor households. However, using panel data from Ethiopia, the current paper explores a less investigated issue of the possible effects of mobile phone adoption on the credit uptakes of the rural poor who are mostly neglected from the formal credit markets but finance their credit demand from informal sources including relatives/friends.Design/methodology/approachTo investigate the relationship between mobile phones and credit uptake and/or loan size, one can use different empirical strategies. For partly unleashing the endogeneity problem, an instrumental variable estimation approach is adopted in this paper. To deal with the endogeneity problem, one may consider using the linear IV approach or the control function. But the outcome variable and the endogenous variable are binary in nature, and the usual trend is to use the linear IV models or control functions, which do not consider these binary natures of the variables. To this end, a special regressors estimator is adopted, mostly used when both the dependent and the endogenous variables are binary in nature.FindingsThe econometric results suggest mobile phones are positively associated with the credit uptake of rural households, especially credit uptake from informal sources. Households with mobile phones are found to have 4%–14% higher probabilities of credit uptake and about 6%–17% in the case of credit from informal sources. Besides, households with mobile phones are found to have about ETB 65 (USD 3.42) higher loan size and about ETB 78 (USD 4.11) higher amount of loan in the case of a loan from the informal sources. Thus, policy-makers and financial providers working on providing credit in rural areas need to exploit the use of mobile phones in reaching out to the rural poor.Originality/valueThe author attests the fact that the work described has not been published previously and that it is not under consideration for publication elsewhere. Besides, it is the original work of the author.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document