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Does financing startups impact the profitability of microfinancing institutions?

Kuldeep Singh (Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune, India)
Arpita Sharma (Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune, India)

International Journal of Social Economics

ISSN: 0306-8293

Article publication date: 3 December 2024

148

Abstract

Purpose

Funding startups is usually perceived as a risky investment for money lenders and investors due to the high failure rate of such early-stage firms. Therefore, funding startups may negatively impact the profitability of the lending institutions. The current study aims to test how financing startups (the percentage of financed enterprises that are startups) affects the profitability of microfinancing institutions (MFIs). It also attempts to determine the conditions that allow MFIs to limit the negative effects of such risky investments on their profitability.

Design/methodology/approach

The study considers panel data of 2,694 global MFIs hosted on the Microfinance Information Exchange Market on the World Bank website. Dynamic panel data methodology (generalized methods of moment) is applied to conduct the econometric analysis. In addition to regression analysis, to test the main and interaction effects, interaction graphs are plotted to elaborate on the findings.

Findings

Direct evidence implies that financing startups negatively impacts the profitability of MFIs. Therefore, MFIs should act per two necessary conditions to reduce risks associated with startups financing. First, MFIs should optimize their risk cover and use these funds to finance startups. Second, an increased use of non-earning liquid funds to finance startups is recommended to maintain profitability.

Practical implications

The findings of our study will help MFIs continue lending to startups while protecting their profitability.

Originality/value

The findings contribute to the institutionalization approach of MFIs while providing favorable conditions for financing startups and protecting profitability at the same time.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

We sincerely thank the editor, associate editor, anonymous reviewers, and the Emerald Publishing team for their invaluable feedback, guidance, and support, which have been crucial in shaping and refining our paper.

Citation

Singh, K. and Sharma, A. (2024), "Does financing startups impact the profitability of microfinancing institutions?", International Journal of Social Economics, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSE-11-2023-0907

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited

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