Ciclo de vida das cooperativas de crédito brasileiras: o desempenho da cooperativa como motivo para a descontinuidade das operações

It is possible to observe a recent wave of discontinuity among the Brazilian credit unions. According to the cooperative life cycle theory, the decision to discontinue the activities is determined by the "financial health" of the member and the cooperative itself. Therefore, we aimed in this paper to explore the role of performance in the decision to discontinue the cooperative. To achieve this goal, we found a series of prominent indicators for credit unions and which of these indicators presented statistical differences between the continued and the discontinued. In order to understand if the low performance affected the decision to end the activities, we identified the frequency in which discontinued cooperatives presented performance below the others. The main indicators identified are related to the quality of credit contracts and the generation of resources by the cooperative, being linked to problems encountered in the life cycle phases such as membership growth, the disincentive to investment and management decision-making problems.É possível observar uma recente onda de descontinuidade entre as cooperativas de crédito brasileiras. De acordo com a teoria do ciclo de vida das cooperativas, a decisão por encerrar as atividades é pauteada pela “saúde financeira” dos cooperados e da própria cooperativa. Portanto, este trabalho buscou explorar o papel do desempenho sobre a decisão por descontinuar a cooperativa. Para alcançar este objetivo, foram encontrados uma série de indicadores proeminentes para cooperativas de crédito e, dentre estes, quais apresentavam diferenças estatísticas entre as continuadas e as descontinuadas. Para compreender se o desempenho baixo afetava a decisão pelo encerramento, identificou-se a frequência em que cooperativas descontinuadas apresentavam índices abaixo das demais. Os principais indicadores identificados são relacionados a qualidade dos contratos de crédito e a geração de recursos próprios, sendo vinculados a problemas encontrados nas fases do ciclo de vida como o crescimento do quadro social, o desincentivo ao investimento e problemas de tomada de decisão pela gestão

Procura por crédito em cooperativas e bancos comerciais brasileiros: ela se relaciona com a atividade econômica?

Transactions between credit unions and members often rely on trust and proximity, which would make credit unions robust against economic recessions. In this work, the demand for credit in Brazilian credit unions and commercial banks between 2000 and 2019 was compared. Analyzes on the time series of the variation of credit operations investigated their trends, structural breaks were associated with the economic activity, and multivariate linear models tested the sensitivity of the demand for credit to the Brazilian economy. The results show that the demand for credit in Brazilian credit unions is not robust to recessions and also it is not less sensitive to the economic activity than in banks. Individuals seem to be indifferent between credit unions and banks in recessions. Finally, it is possible to associate the growth of the demand for credit in credit unions to the expansion into new localities, suggesting challenges for managers when options for expansion into new markets exhaust.Transações entre cooperativas de crédito e membros costumam se pautar pela confiança e proximidade, o que tornaria as cooperativas robustas contra recessões econômicas. Neste trabalho, a procura por crédito em cooperativas e bancos comerciais brasileiros no período entre 2000 e 2019 foi comparada. Análises sobre as séries temporais da variação das operações de crédito investigaram suas tendências, quebras estruturais foram associadas à atividade econômica, e modelos lineares multivariados testaram a sensibilidade da procura por crédito à economia brasileira. Os resultados apontam que a procura por crédito nas cooperativas brasileiras não é robusta contra recessões e também não é menos sensível a atividade econômica do que nos bancos. Indivíduos parecem ser indiferentes quanto a cooperativas e bancos em recessões. Por fim, é possível associar o crescimento da procura por crédito em cooperativas a expansão para novas localidades, sugerindo desafios aos gestores quando as opções de expansão a novos mercados se exaurirem

Transformations in the Ownership Structure of Credit Unions: Banking Service Rates and the Expectations of Members and Directors

Open membership and mergers are common transformations in the ownership structure in Brazilian credit unions. Following the logic that they are motivated by the expectations of members and directors, this study associates these transformations with the banking services rates offered by credit unions. We employ ordered and multinomial logit models to investigate whether abnormal positive bank spreads-reflecting rates that could offer few advantages to members and large private benefits to directors-increase the probability of transformation. Our results indicate that the expectations of members and directors explain credit unions’ transformation, as seen in size and performance. The evidence reinforces that, under expectations of gains, members and directors play an active role in the decision to transform the ownership structure of credit unions, suggesting improvements in the corporate governance and incentives for mergers so that credit unions can grow to benefit members

Managerial entrenchment and value creation in Brazilian credit unions

O entrincheiramento gerencial se caracteriza pela redução dos direitos dos proprietários de qualquer organização, que passam a ter gestores fortalecidos e protegidos. Embora pesquisas apontem o entrincheiramento como redutor do valor nas empresas de capital aberto, teoricamente as cooperativas de crédito possuem características que tornam divergentes os possíveis efeitos do entrincheiramento gerencial sobre a criação de valor, ao potencializar problemas de agência ou originar relações de stewardship. Entretanto, pouco se sabe sobre esta relação nas cooperativas, sem haver investigação empírica sobre esta associação. Dentro deste contexto, este trabalho investigou o entrincheiramento gerencial nas cooperativas de crédito brasileiras e sua associação à criação de valor. Utilizando dados encontrados nos estatutos sociais vigentes no ano de 2016, foi desenvolvido um índice de entrincheiramento baseado em previsões sobre dualidade, manutenção no cargo, trocas de conselheiros e limites contra candidaturas rivais, com a associação ao valor testada por técnicas de mínimos quadrados ordinários e em dois estágios. As estimações realizadas apontaram uma associação negativa entre o índice de entrincheiramento e a criação de valor, realçada pelo uso de mínimos quadrados em dois estágios, que persistiu em análises envolvendo amostras específicas de cooperativas, à exceção da amostra composta por cooperativas de livre admissão. Os resultados alinham o caso das cooperativas de crédito ao das empresas de capital aberto, o que pode implicar em uma similaridade entre estas formas organizacionais, apesar de teoricamente serem apresentadas como distintas.The managerial entrenchment is characterized by the reduction of the ownership rights in any organization, which have their managers strengthened and protected. Although prior research points out the entrenchment as a reducer of value in investor-oriented firms, credit unions theoretically have characteristics that make divergent the possible effects of managerial entrenchment on the value creation, by potentiating agency problems or leading to stewardship relationships. However, there is little knowledge about this relationship in cooperatives, without any empirical research on this association. Therefore, this work investigated the managerial entrenchment in Brazilian credit unions and their association with value creation. Using data found in the credit unions\' bylaws in force in 2016, an entrenchment index based on provisions of duality, possibility of prolonged tenure, board members\' exchanges and limits against rival applications was developed, with the association with value tested by ordinary and two-stage least squares techniques. The estimation showed a negative association between the entrenchment index and the value creation, highlighted by the use of two-stage least squares, which persisted in analyzes involving specific samples of credit unions with the exception of the sample composed by free entry credit unions. The results align the case of credit unions with that of investor-oriented firms, which may imply a similarity between these organizational forms, although they are theoretically presented as distinct

Managerial entrenchment and value creation in Brazilian credit unions

O entrincheiramento gerencial se caracteriza pela redução dos direitos dos proprietários de qualquer organização, que passam a ter gestores fortalecidos e protegidos. Embora pesquisas apontem o entrincheiramento como redutor do valor nas empresas de capital aberto, teoricamente as cooperativas de crédito possuem características que tornam divergentes os possíveis efeitos do entrincheiramento gerencial sobre a criação de valor, ao potencializar problemas de agência ou originar relações de stewardship. Entretanto, pouco se sabe sobre esta relação nas cooperativas, sem haver investigação empírica sobre esta associação. Dentro deste contexto, este trabalho investigou o entrincheiramento gerencial nas cooperativas de crédito brasileiras e sua associação à criação de valor. Utilizando dados encontrados nos estatutos sociais vigentes no ano de 2016, foi desenvolvido um índice de entrincheiramento baseado em previsões sobre dualidade, manutenção no cargo, trocas de conselheiros e limites contra candidaturas rivais, com a associação ao valor testada por técnicas de mínimos quadrados ordinários e em dois estágios. As estimações realizadas apontaram uma associação negativa entre o índice de entrincheiramento e a criação de valor, realçada pelo uso de mínimos quadrados em dois estágios, que persistiu em análises envolvendo amostras específicas de cooperativas, à exceção da amostra composta por cooperativas de livre admissão. Os resultados alinham o caso das cooperativas de crédito ao das empresas de capital aberto, o que pode implicar em uma similaridade entre estas formas organizacionais, apesar de teoricamente serem apresentadas como distintas.The managerial entrenchment is characterized by the reduction of the ownership rights in any organization, which have their managers strengthened and protected. Although prior research points out the entrenchment as a reducer of value in investor-oriented firms, credit unions theoretically have characteristics that make divergent the possible effects of managerial entrenchment on the value creation, by potentiating agency problems or leading to stewardship relationships. However, there is little knowledge about this relationship in cooperatives, without any empirical research on this association. Therefore, this work investigated the managerial entrenchment in Brazilian credit unions and their association with value creation. Using data found in the credit unions\' bylaws in force in 2016, an entrenchment index based on provisions of duality, possibility of prolonged tenure, board members\' exchanges and limits against rival applications was developed, with the association with value tested by ordinary and two-stage least squares techniques. The estimation showed a negative association between the entrenchment index and the value creation, highlighted by the use of two-stage least squares, which persisted in analyzes involving specific samples of credit unions with the exception of the sample composed by free entry credit unions. The results align the case of credit unions with that of investor-oriented firms, which may imply a similarity between these organizational forms, although they are theoretically presented as distinct

Sobrevivência e falha das cooperativas de crédito brasileiras: uma análise das características de governança corporativa

We aim in this paper to understand the link between corporate governance characteristics and the discontinuity of Brazilian credit unions, investigating if these characteristics affect their strategy of exiting the market. The information on the discontinuity was collected at the Brazilian Central Bank, and corporate governance variables, such as duality and board size, for instance, were withdrawn from bylaw then-current in 2016. The final sample comprises 44 discontinued and 1,006 continued credit unions. Additionally, we perform tests to verify the statistical differences between those groups. Despite finding statistical differences in some of the corporate governance characteristics, it is noteworthy that age and size seem to have a greater effect on the discontinuity. Moreover, apparently, the cost of compliance imposed by regulatory bodies might influence the credit unions in different ways. This suggests possibilities for further research on this topic, such as the role of member heterogeneity on corporate governance structures and discontinuity.Este trabalho teve como objetivo compreender a relação entre as estruturas de governança corporativa e a descontinuidade das cooperativas de crédito brasileiras, investigando se estas características afetam sua opção de saída do mercado. A informação sobre a descontinuidade foi coletada junto ao Banco Central do Brasil, e as variáveis de governança corporativa, como a dualidade e o tamanho do conselho, por exemplo, foram obtidas nos estatutos sociais vigentes no ano de 2016. A amostra final compreendeu 44 cooperativas descontinuadas e 1.006 continuadas. Adicionalmente, testes foram realizados para verificar diferenças estatísticas entre os dois grupos. Apesar de algumas diferenças estatísticas terem sido identificadas, é mais notável que idade e tamanho exercem mais efeito sobre a descontinuidade. Além disto, o custo de compliance imposto pela regulação aparenta exercer influência ambígua nas cooperativas de crédito. Os resultados sugerem novas pesquisas neste tópico, como o papel da heterogeneidade dos membros sobre as estruturas de governança e a descontinuidade das cooperativas de crédito

NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES: a data set on carnivore distribution in the Neotropics

Mammalian carnivores are considered a key group in maintaining ecological health and can indicate potential ecological integrity in landscapes where they occur. Carnivores also hold high conservation value and their habitat requirements can guide management and conservation plans. The order Carnivora has 84 species from 8 families in the Neotropical region: Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Otariidae; Phocidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae. Herein, we include published and unpublished data on native terrestrial Neotropical carnivores (Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae). NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES is a publicly available data set that includes 99,605 data entries from 35,511 unique georeferenced coordinates. Detection/non-detection and quantitative data were obtained from 1818 to 2018 by researchers, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private consultants. Data were collected using several methods including camera trapping, museum collections, roadkill, line transect, and opportunistic records. Literature (peer-reviewed and grey literature) from Portuguese, Spanish and English were incorporated in this compilation. Most of the data set consists of detection data entries (n = 79,343; 79.7%) but also includes non-detection data (n = 20,262; 20.3%). Of those, 43.3% also include count data (n = 43,151). The information available in NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES will contribute to macroecological, ecological, and conservation questions in multiple spatio-temporal perspectives. As carnivores play key roles in trophic interactions, a better understanding of their distribution and habitat requirements are essential to establish conservation management plans and safeguard the future ecological health of Neotropical ecosystems. Our data paper, combined with other large-scale data sets, has great potential to clarify species distribution and related ecological processes within the Neotropics. There are no copyright restrictions and no restriction for using data from this data paper, as long as the data paper is cited as the source of the information used. We also request that users inform us of how they intend to use the data

NEOTROPICAL ALIEN MAMMALS: a data set of occurrence and abundance of alien mammals in the Neotropics

Biological invasion is one of the main threats to native biodiversity. For a species to become invasive, it must be voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into a nonnative habitat. Mammals were among first taxa to be introduced worldwide for game, meat, and labor, yet the number of species introduced in the Neotropics remains unknown. In this data set, we make available occurrence and abundance data on mammal species that (1) transposed a geographical barrier and (2) were voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into the Neotropics. Our data set is composed of 73,738 historical and current georeferenced records on alien mammal species of which around 96% correspond to occurrence data on 77 species belonging to eight orders and 26 families. Data cover 26 continental countries in the Neotropics, ranging from Mexico and its frontier regions (southern Florida and coastal-central Florida in the southeast United States) to Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay, and the 13 countries of Caribbean islands. Our data set also includes neotropical species (e.g., Callithrix sp., Myocastor coypus, Nasua nasua) considered alien in particular areas of Neotropics. The most numerous species in terms of records are from Bos sp. (n = 37,782), Sus scrofa (n = 6,730), and Canis familiaris (n = 10,084); 17 species were represented by only one record (e.g., Syncerus caffer, Cervus timorensis, Cervus unicolor, Canis latrans). Primates have the highest number of species in the data set (n = 20 species), partly because of uncertainties regarding taxonomic identification of the genera Callithrix, which includes the species Callithrix aurita, Callithrix flaviceps, Callithrix geoffroyi, Callithrix jacchus, Callithrix kuhlii, Callithrix penicillata, and their hybrids. This unique data set will be a valuable source of information on invasion risk assessments, biodiversity redistribution and conservation-related research. There are no copyright restrictions. Please cite this data paper when using the data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us on how they are using the data

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans—anteaters, sloths, and armadillos—have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, 10 anteaters, and 6 sloths. Our data set includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the southern United States, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to the austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n = 5,941), and Cyclopes sp. have the fewest (n = 240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n = 11,588), and the fewest data are recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n = 33). With regard to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n = 962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n = 12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other data sets of Neotropical Series that will become available very soon (i.e., Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans data set. Please cite this data paper when using its data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are using these data