Towards a Performance Measurement Framework for Community Development Finance Institutions in the UK

Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs) are publicly funded organisations that provide small loans to people in financially underserved areas of the UK. Policy makers have repeatedly sought to understand and measure the performance of CDFIs to ensure the efficient use of public funds, but have struggled to identify an appropriate way of doing so. In this article, we empirically derive a framework which measures the performance of CDFIs through an analysis of their stakeholder relationships. Based on qualitative data from 20 English CDFIs, we develop a typology of CDFIs according to three dimensions: organisational structure, type of lending, and type of market served. Following on from this, we derive several propositions that consider how these dimensions relate to the financial and social performance of CDFIs, and provide the basis for a performance measurement framework.Community Development Finance, Performance Measurement, Stakeholder Theory

Microlending: Is There Demand for Such Loans in Germany?

A lack of financial means is viewed as a key reason why small businesses fail. Therefore, also in Germany several institutions tried to establish microloans as a financing tool. A first empirical study, building a benchmark for similar studies in Western Europe, shows that about 15 percent of all self-employed individuals would be interested in getting access to microloans. The study also demonstrates that these financial needs exist in target groups different from what was previously expected at least in Germany. Rather than offering microloans to business founders, they should be offered to existing small business owners in specific sectors. In addition, in order to be accepted by entrepreneurs, access to microloans must be available rapidly, with short repayment periods.Entrepreneurship, Microlending, Market research

Funding Self-Employment: The Role of Consumer Credit

This paper investigates whether self-employed households use consumer loans – in particular instalment loans and overdrafts – to finance business activities. Controlling for financial and non-financial household variables we show that self-employed households particularly use personal overdrafts significantly more often than employee households. When analyzing the correlation between consumer loan take-ups and consumption of self-employed in comparison to employee households, we find first evidence that overdrafts are used by self-employed to finance their business as well. This indicates that intermingling constitutes a financing strategy when regular business loans might not be accessible.small business finance, consumer credit, financial intermingling

Funding Self-Employment - The Role of Consumer Credit

In this paper we investigate whether self-employed households use consumer loans to finance their business activities. In particular, it is shown that self-employed households use personal overdrafts significantly more often than employee households do. This difference remains when controlling for financial and non-financial household variables: a discrete change from wage employment to self-employment results in an average rise in overdraft usage of 14.1%. These findings are corroborated when analyzing the correlation between consumer loan take-ups and consumption of self-employed households. Intermingling of personal and business resources is more likely when the household is credit constrained; when the household head is younger; and when financial assets within the household are lower.Small Business Finance, Consumer Credit, Financial Intermingling

Toward a Performance Measurement Framework of Community Development Finance

Abstract Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs) are publicly funded organisations that provide small loans to people in financially underserved areas of the UK. Policy makers have repeatedly sought to understand and measure the performance of CDFIs to ensure the efficient use of public funds, but have struggled to identify an appropriate way of doing so. In this article, we empirically derive a framework which measures the performance of CDFIs through an analysis of their stakeholder relationships. Based on qualitative data from 20 English CDFIs, we develop a typology of CDFIs according to three dimensions: organisational structure, type of lending, and type of market served. Following on from this, we derive several propositions that consider how these dimensions relate to the financial and social performance of CDFIs, and provide the basis for a performance measurement framework

Demand Side Analysis of Microlending Markets in Germany

In developing and transition economies, microlending has become an effective instrument for providing micro businesses with the necessary financial resources to launch operations. In the industrialized countries, with their highly developed banking systems, however, there has been ongoing debate on the question of whether an uncovered demand for microlending services exists. The present pilot study explores customer preferences for microlending products in Germany. Among the interviewed business owners, 15% reported revolving funding needs and an interest in microloans. We find that potential recipients of microloan products are retail business owners, foreign business owners, and persons who had previously received private loans. Furthermore, financial products should feature rapid access to short-term loans.entrepreneurship, microlending, market research

Demand Side Analysis of Microlending Markets in Germany

In developing and transition economies, microlending has become an effective instrument for providing micro businesses with the necessary financial resources to launch operations. In the industrialized countries, with their highly developed banking systems, however, there has been ongoing debate on the question of whether an uncovered demand for microlending services exists. The present pilot study explores customer preferences for microlending products in Germany. Among the interviewed business owners, 15% reported revolving funding needs and an interest in microloans. We find that potential recipients of microloan products are retail business owners, foreign business owners, and persons who had previously received private loans. Furthermore, financial products should feature rapid access to short-term loans.Entrepreneurship, Microlending, Market Research

Mikrokredite: Bedarf auch in Deutschland

Fehlende Finanzierung wird als ein zentraler Grund angesehen, warum kleine Unternehmen scheitern. Seit einigen Jahren wird daher versucht, das Instrument der Mikrokredite auch in Deutschland zu etablieren. Eine erste empirische Studie zeigt, dass rund 15 Prozent aller Selbständigen Interesse an Mikrokrediten äußern. Allerdings macht diese Studie auch deutlich, dass der Bedarf woanders liegt als bisher vermutet. Statt Existenzgründer sollten bereits aktive Kleinunternehmer bestimmter Branchen angesprochen werden. Außerdem müssen Mikrokredite bei kurzer Laufzeit schnell verfügbar sein, damit sie von Unternehmern angenommen werden.Entrepreneurship, Microlending, Market research

Generationsgerechtigkeit und Unternehmen

Um der Frage nachgehen zu können, ob Generationengerechtigkeit grundsätzlich Aufgabe von Unternehmen sein kann, muss zunächst beantwortet werden, ob Unternehmen als kollektive Akteure moralische Verantwortung tragen können. Dazu wird ein Ansatz vorgestellt, der die Selbstbindungsfähigkeit von Akteuren betont. Unternehmen haben als kollektive Akteure gegenüber Individuen eine größere Selbstbindungsfähigkeit, da sie erstens einen prinzipiell unendlichen Zeithorizont haben; zweitens der Charakter eines korporativen Akteurs durch eine Organisationsverfassung konstituiert wird. Die Bereitschaft von Unternehmen langfristige Investitionen zu tätigen sowie die glaubhafte Programmierbarkeit des Charakters von Unternehmen kann aber auf Grund verschiedener Unvollkommenheiten eingeschränkt sein. Diese Unvollkommenheiten werden im vorliegenden Beitrag ausführlich diskutiert. --