Share:


Microfinance and poverty in Indonesia: the macro impact of people’s credit bank

    Munawar Ismail Affiliation
    ; Dwi Budi Santoso Affiliation
    ; Dias Satria Affiliation

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of people’s credit banks (BPRs), a predominant form of microfinance in Indonesia, in mitigating poverty. Using panel data from 31 provinces in Indonesia, this study employs static panel and panel models with instrument variables. Our findings substantiate that BPR credit significantly contributes to poverty reduction across various indices, including headcount poverty, poverty gap, and poverty severity measures. The empirical results offer valuable insights into the efficacy of targeted microfinance as a potent tool for poverty alleviation in developing economies.

Keyword : poverty, microfinance, credit, people's credit banks, provincial panel, Indonesia

How to Cite
Ismail, M., Santoso, D. B., & Satria, D. (2024). Microfinance and poverty in Indonesia: the macro impact of people’s credit bank. Journal of Business Economics and Management, 25(4), 647–664. https://doi.org/10.3846/jbem.2024.22001
Published in Issue
Aug 29, 2024
Abstract Views
391
PDF Downloads
384
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

References

Abrar, A., Hasan, I., & Kabir, R. (2023). What makes the difference? Microfinance versus commercial banks. Borsa Istanbul Review, 23(4), 759–778. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bir.2023.03.007

Adam, L., & Lestari, E. (2017). Indonesia’s guaranteed microfinance programme (KUR): Lessons from the first stage of implementation. Southeast Asian Economies, 34(2), 322–344. https://doi.org/10.1355/ae34-2e

Ahlin, C., & Jiang, N. (2008). Can micro-credit bring development? Journal of Development Economics, 86(1), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdeveco.2007.08.002

Ahmed, I., & Kitenge, E. (2022). Microfinance outreach and aggregate welfare. Journal of International Development, 34(3), 652–669. https://doi.org/10.1002/jid.3616

Andrews, I., Stock, J. H., & Sun, L. (2019). Weak instruments in instrumental variables regression: Theory and practice. Annual Review of Economics, 11(1), 727–753. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-economics-080218-025643

Angrist, J. D., & Krueger, A. B. (2001). Instrumental variables and the search for identification: From supply and demand to natural experiments. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 15(4), 69–85. https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.15.4.69

Asian Development Bank. (2000). Finance for the poor: Microfinance development strategy. Asian Development Bank. https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/institutional-document/32094/financepolicy.pdf

Asian Development Bank Institute. (2001). Role of financial intermediaries for poverty reduction (ADBI Executive Summary Series No. S60/02).

Banerjee, A., Karlan, D., & Zinman, J. (2015). Six randomized evaluations of microcredit: Introduction and further steps. American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 7(1), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1257/app.20140287

Banto, J. M., & Monsia, A. F. (2021). Microfinance institutions, banking, growth and transmission channel: A GMM panel data analysis from developing countries. The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, 79, 126–150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.qref.2020.06.004

Batinge, B. K., & Jenkins, H. (2021). Gender and poverty reduction in Ghana: The role of microfinance institutions. International Journal of Economics and Finance, 13(8), 71–87. https://doi.org/10.5539/ijef.v13n8p71

Beck, T. (2015). Microfinance: A Critical literature survey (IEG Working Paper 2015/4).

Beck, T., Demirgüç-Kunt, A., & Levine, R. (2007). Finance, inequality and the poor. Journal of Economic Growth, 12(1), 27–49. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10887-007-9010-6

Beg, K., Padmapriya, B., Shajar, S. N., Ahmad, M. M., & Faiyyaz, A. G. (2024). The bibliometric analysis of previous twenty- five years’ literature: A microfinance review. Heliyon, 10(3), Article e24979. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24979

Buera, F. J., Kaboski, J. P., & Shin, Y. (2021). The macroeconomics of microfinance. The Review of Economic Studies, 88(1), 126–161. https://doi.org/10.1093/restud/rdaa047

Buera, F., Kaboski, J., & Shin, Y. (2012). The macroeconomics of microfinance. https://doi.org/10.3386/w17905

Campbell, J. Y., & Mankiw, N. G. (1990). Permanent income, current income, and consumption. Journal of Business & Economic Statistics, 8(3), 265–279. https://doi.org/10.1080/07350015.1990.10509798

Chhorn, D. (2021). Microfinance illusion, poverty and welfare in Cambodia. Journal of the Asia Pacific Economy, 26(4), 694–719. https://doi.org/10.1080/13547860.2020.1826074

de Aghion, B. A., & Morduch, J. (2010). The economics of microfinance (1st ed.). MIT Press.

Deaton, A., & Cartwright, N. (2016). The limitations of randomised controlled trials. VOX, CEPR Policy Portal. https://cepr.org/voxeu/columns/limitations-randomised-controlled-trials

DeLoach, S. B., & Lamanna, E. (2011). Measuring the impact of microfinance on child health outcomes in Indonesia. World Development, 39(10), 1808–1819. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2011.04.009

Demirguc-Kunt, A., Klapper, L., & Singer, D. (2017). Financial inclusion and inclusive growth: A review of recent empirical evidence (Policy Research Working Paper No. 8040). https://doi.org/10.1596/1813-9450-8205

Devi, L. Y. (2016a). Rural Bank development and poverty reduction in Indonesia: Evidence from panel co-integration and causality tests. In V.-N. Huynh, V. Kreinovich, & S. Sriboonchitta (Eds.), Causal inference in econometrics. (pp. 621–635). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27284-9_40

Devi, L. Y. (2016b). The impact of rural bank loans on regional economic growth and regional poverty in Indonesia (NZAE Working Paper No. 10). https://www.nzae.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Laksmi_Devi.pdf

Donou-Adonsou, F., & Sylwester, K. (2016). Financial development and poverty reduction in developing countries: New evidence from banks and microfinance institutions. Review of Development Finance, 6(1), 82–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rdf.2016.06.002

Félix, E. G. S., & Belo, T. F. (2019). The impact of microcredit on poverty reduction in eleven developing countries in south-east Asia. Journal of Multinational Financial Management, 52–53, Article 100590. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mulfin.2019.07.003

Gloukoviezoff, G. (2016). Evaluating the impact of European microfinance: The foundations (Working Paper No. 033). European Investment Fund.

Goldberg, N. (2005). Measuring the Impact of microfinance: Taking stock of what we know. Grameen Foundation USA Publication Series.

Greenwood, J., & Jovanovic, B. (1990). Financial development, growth, and the distribution of income. Journal of Political Economy, 98(5, Part 1), 1076–1107. https://doi.org/10.1086/261720

Holloh, D. (2001). ProFI Microfinance Institutions Study. https://www.findevgateway.org/sites/default/files/publications/files/mfg-en-paper-microfinance-institutions-study-2001.pdf

Ibrahim, Y., Ahmed, I., & Minai, M. S. (2018). The influence of institutional characteristics on financial performance of microfinance institutions in the OIC countries. Economics and Sociology, 11(2), 19–35. https://doi.org/10.14254/2071-789X.2018/11-2/2

Imai, K. S., Gaiha, R., Thapa, G., & Annim, S. K. (2012). Microfinance and poverty – A macro perspective. World Development, 40(8), 1675–1689. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2012.04.013

Indonesia Financial Services Authority. (2016). Tinjauan Keuangan Mikro Indonesia 2015 [Indonesian Microfinance Review 2015]. Indonesia Financial Services Authority – Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Islam, K., & O’Gorman, M. (2019). Microcredit contract design: A macroeconomic evaluation. World Development, 124, Article 104634. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2019.104634

Ismail, M. (2021). The direct effect of commercial banks on poverty reduction: Evidence from provinces in Indonesia. Applied Economics, 53(56), 6497–6509. https://doi.org/10.1080/00036846.2021.1946474

Johnston, D., & Morduch, J. (2008). The unbanked: Evidence from Indonesia. The World Bank Economic Review, 22(3), 517–537. https://doi.org/10.1093/wber/lhn016

Khan, A. A., Khan, S. U., Fahad, S., Ali, M. A. S., Khan, A., & Luo, J. (2021). Microfinance and poverty reduction: New evidence from Pakistan. International Journal of Finance & Economics, 26(3), 4723–4733. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijfe.2038

Khandker, S. R., Khalily, M. A. B., & Samad, H. A. (2016). Beyond Ending Poverty: The Dynamics of Microfinance in Bangladesh. World Bank. https://doi.org/10.1596/978-1-4648-0894-4

Krahnen, J. P., & Schmidt, R. H. (2021). Development finance as institution building. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429039836

Ledgerwood, J. (1998). Microfinance handbook: An institutional and financial perspective. The World Bank. https://doi.org/10.1596/978-0-8213-4306-7

Levine, R. (2021). Finance, growth, and inequality (IMF Working Paper 2021/164). International Monetary Fund. https://doi.org/10.5089/9781513583365.001

Maeenuddin, Hamid, S. A., Fahlevi, M., Nassir, A. M., & Hashim, P. M. (2023). Predictors of microfinance sustainability: Empirical evidence from Bangladesh. Cogent Economics & Finance, 11(1), Article 2202964. https://doi.org/10.1080/23322039.2023.2202964

Mahmud, K. T., Parvez, A., Ahmed, S. S., & Rafiq, F. (2022). Microcredit and the household food security of the fish farmers: Evidence from rural Bangladesh. Development in Practice, 32(8), 1091–1100. https://doi.org/10.1080/09614524.2022.2101618

Maitrot, M., & Niño-Zarazúa, M. (2017). Poverty and wellbeing impacts of microfinance: What do we know? SSRN. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3076781

Maksudova, N. (2010). Macroeconomics of Microfinance: How do the channels work? (CERGE-EI Working Papers No. wp423). SSRN. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1699982

Manko, K., & Watkins, T. A. (2022). Microfinance and SDG 7: Financial impact channels for mitigating energy poverty. Development in Practice, 32(8), 1036–1048. https://doi.org/10.1080/09614524.2020.1863338

McHugh, N., Biosca, O., & Donaldson, C. (2017). From wealth to health: Evaluating microfinance as a complex intervention. Evaluation, 23(2), 209–225. https://doi.org/10.1177/1356389017697622

Morduch, J. (2020). Why RCTs failed to answer the biggest questions about microcredit impact. World Development, 127, Article 104818. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2019.104818

Odell, K. (2010). Measuring of the impact of microfinance: Taking another look. Grameen Foundation.

Patten, R. H., Rosengard, J. k., & Johnston, JR, D. E. (2001). Microfinance success amidst macroeconomic failure: The experience of Bank Rakyat Indonesia during the East Asian crisis. World Development, 29(6), 1057–1069. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0305-750X(01)00016-X

Raihan, S., Osmani, S. R., & Khalily, M. A. B. (2017). The macro impact of microfinance in Bangladesh: A CGE analysis. Economic Modelling, 62, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econmod.2017.01.002

Ravallion, M. (2001). Growth, inequality and poverty: Looking beyond averages. World Development, 29(11), 1803–1815. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0305-750X(01)00072-9

Remer, L., & Kattilakoski, H. (2021). Microfinance institutions’ operational self-sufficiency in sub-Saharan Africa: Empirical evidence. International Journal of Corporate Social Responsibility, 6(1), Article 5. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40991-021-00059-5

Ribeiro, J. P. C., Duarte, F., & Gama, A. P. M. (2022). Does microfinance foster the development of its clients? A bibliometric analysis and systematic literature review. Financial Innovation, 8(1), Article 34. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40854-022-00340-x

Robinson, M. S. (2002). The microfinance revolution: Volume 2. Lessons from Indonesia. World Bank. https://doi.org/10.1596/0-8213-4953-8

Rosengard, J. K., Patten, R. H., Johnston, D. E., & Koesoemo, W. (2007). The promise and the peril of microfinance institutions in Indonesia. Bulletin of Indonesian Economic Studies, 43(1), 87–112. https://doi.org/10.1080/00074910701286404

Seibel, H. D. (2005). The microbanking division of Bank Rakyat Indonesia: A flagship of rural microfinance in Asia (Working Paper No. 2). Universität zu Köln, Arbeitsstelle für Entwicklungsländerforschung (AEF), Köln.

Seibel, H. D., & Parhusip, U. (1997). Microfinance in Indonesia: An assessment of microfinance institutions banking with the poor (Working Paper No. 7). Universität zu Köln, Arbeitsstelle für Entwicklungsländerforschung (AEF), Köln.

Sharma, M., Gupta, M., Sharma, R. L., & Sharma, A. K. (2021). Prospects and challenges of microfinance as a tool in poverty reduction. Academy of Marketing Studies Journal, 25(6), 1–6.

Soemitra, A., Kusmilawaty, & Rahma, T. I. F. (2022). The role of micro Waqf Bank in women’s micro-business empowerment through Islamic social finance: Mixed-method evidence from Mawaridussalam Indonesia. Economies, 10(7), Article 157. https://doi.org/10.3390/economies10070157

Steinward, D. (2013). The Indonesian People’s Credit Bank (BPR). In A. Goenka & D. Henley (Eds.), Southeast Asia’s credit revolution. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203874080

Sulemana, M., Fuseini, M. N., & Abdulai, I. A. (2023). Effects of microfinance and small loans centre on poverty reduction in Wa West District, Ghana. Heliyon, 9(12), Article e22685. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22685

Sun, S. L., & Liang, H. (2021). Globalization and affordability of microfinance. Journal of Business Venturing, 36(1), Article 106065. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2020.106065

Suryahadi, A., Suryadarma, D., & Sumarto, S. (2009). The effects of location and sectoral components of economic growth on poverty: Evidence from Indonesia. Journal of Development Economics, 89(1), 109–117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdeveco.2008.08.003

Takahashi, K., Higashikata, T., & Tsukada, K. (2010). The short‐term poverty impact of small‐scale, collateral‐free microcredit in Indonesia: A matching estimator approach. The Developing Economies, 48(1), 128–155. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1746-1049.2010.00101.x

Tomlinson, M., Ward, C., & Marlow, M. (2015). Improving the efficiency of evidence-based interventions: The strengths and limitations of randomised controlled trials. South African Crime Quarterly, 51, Article 43. https://doi.org/10.4314/sacq.v51i1.5

Tria, D., Harun, M., & Alam, M. (2022). Microcredit as a strategy for employment creation: A systematic review of literature. Cogent Economics & Finance, 10(1), Article 2060552. https://doi.org/10.1080/23322039.2022.2060552

United Nations. (2004). UN launches international year of microcredit 2005. United Nations. https://press.un.org/en/2004/dev2492.doc.htm

van Rooyen, C., Stewart, R., & de Wet, T. (2012). The impact of microfinance in Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review of the evidence. World Development, 40(11), 2249–2262. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2012.03.012

Zhuang, J., Gunatilake, H., Niimi, Y., Khan, M. E., Jiang, Y., Hasan, R., Khor, N., Lagman-Martin, A., Bracey, P., & Huang, B. (2009). Financial sector development, economic growth, and poverty reduction: A literature review (Economics Working Papers No. 173). SSRN. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1617022