Interest Rate Restrictions and Microfinance: Insights from Cambodia

Una encuesta del sector de las microfinanzas en Birmania realizada por la Asociación de microfinanzas de Myanmar (MMFA por sus siglas en inglés), ADA, ThitsaWorks y Dave Grace & Associates, basada en datos del 2022, destaca el difícil entorno operativo actual y formula recomendaciones para las autoridades, las entidades de microfinanzas (IMF) y los inversionistas internacionales sobre cómo abordar los desafíos.

Regulation is now considered as essential to bring microfinance institutions to formalization and to protect clients. Yet, most studies investigating regulatory issues focus on formal regulation, namely laws, or on the way other forces, just like competition, influence the market. This note presents the key findings of a research exploring a third regulatory mode: industry self-regulation and the role played by professional associations. Through a case study based on the Tanzanian microfinance association, this research draws conclusions on factors that may favor or restrain the potential of such organizations to contribute to the general regulatory framework.

Many regulators have been tempted to cap the lending rates of microfinance institutions, that is, to limit the rates charged to poor and financially excluded clients through microcredit.

En más de 30 países de todo el mundo, las normas y reglamentaciones relacionadas con las microfinanzas imponían un límite rígido a las tasas de interés, es decir, límites que prohibían los intereses por encima de un nivel determinado con precisión.