This paper analyzes whether the effects of monitoring and social ties of the group leader and other group members on repayment performance of groups differ, using data from an extensive questionnaire held in Eritrea among participants of 102 groups. We hypothesize that the monitoring activities...

This paper uses stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) to examine whether there is a trade-off between outreach to the poor and efficiency of microfinance institutions (MFIs). Using a sample of more than 1,300 observations, our study suggests that outreach and efficiency of MFIs are indeed...

We conducted a survey in 2001 among members and group leaders of borrowers who accessed loans from two microcredit programs in Eritrea. Using the results from this survey, this paper aims to provide new insights on the empirical relevance of the homogeneous matching hypothesis for microcredit...

This paper examines, for a sample of 657 state-owned Chinese firms in 2005, whether group affiliation improves performance. By using a simple OLS regression, as well as propensity score matching, treatment effects and two-step instrumental variable methods, we find a robust positive effect of...

This paper examines whether institutional differences between countries impact upon the efficient operation of commercial banks. We hypothesize that well developed institutions may affect the adoption of the technology used by banks, and the efficient use of the technology in place. By applying...

This article investigates propping in Turkish business group firms for the period 1991-2003. We claim that patterns in the use of offering cash rights share issues may indicate that controlling shareholders prop up funds in firms. The results of our empirical analysis provide indicative evidence...

This paper investigates the impact of financial liberalization on bank efficiency, using data for a sample of over 4,000 banks from ten emerging economies for the period 1991-2000. We use the DEA approach to calculate bank efficiency at the individual bank level. Bank efficiency measures are...

This paper compares the use of capital budgeting techniques of Dutch and Chinese firms, using data obtained from a survey among 250 Dutch and 300 Chinese companies. Our main aim is to analyse the use of capital budgeting techniques by companies in both countries from a comparative perspective to...

The publication of the Assessing Aid report of the World Bank in 1998 has stimulated the debate on the future of development aid and aid policies. This collection contains a number of studies that aim to contribute to this debate. In this introduction we put the discussion on the future of...