Commercial Microfinance and Social Responsibility: A Critique

Nair, Tara (2010): Commercial Microfinance and Social Responsibility: A Critique. Published in: Economic and Political Weekly , Vol. XLV, No. 31 (31 July 2010): pp. 32-37.

Abstract

Working within the logic of maximising investor returns, the strategic focus of Indian microfinance institutions seems to have shifted from serving the poor borrowers to chasing profits. The commercial transformation of MFIs has been accompanied by changes in the structure of ownership, management and nature of their stakeholder commitment. This essay discusses some of the critical inadequacies in the approaches advocated and currently practised by the commercial MFIs in order to restore the sector’s focus on poor borrowers.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: commercial microfinance; social responsibility; India
• Subjects: M - Business Administration and Business Economics ; Marketing ; Accounting ; Personnel Economics > M1 - Business Administration > M14 - Corporate Culture ; Diversity ; Social Responsibility; A - General Economics and Teaching > A1 - General Economics > A13 - Relation of Economics to Social Values; G - Financial Economics > G2 - Financial Institutions and Services > G21 - Banks ; Depository Institutions ; Micro Finance Institutions ; Mortgages

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