@article{fdi:010072586,
  title = {{DEA} and {SFA} research on the efficiency of microfinance institutions : a meta-analysis},
  author = {{F}all, {F}. and {A}kim, {A}. and {W}assongmae, {H}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{M}icrofinance has played a key role in the fight against exclusion and the promotion of entrepreneurship in developing countries. {A}n important question today is how to increase the reach and profitability of microfinance, in a context where subsidies are withdrawing to promote the viability and sustainability of microfinance institutions ({MFI}s). {E}fficiency analysis has found favor in this context and has attracted growing interest among professionals, partners, and researchers. {A}bundant empirical work has been conducted over the last ten years on this subject, in very different contexts and with different methodologies. {T}he purpose of this article is to provide a meta-regression analysis on parametric and nonparametric estimations of {M}ean {T}echnical {E}fficiency ({MTE}) in microfinance, using a data set of 262 observations from 38 studies. {T}he results show that, in the microfinance industry, {MTE} scores have increased over time. {H}owever, with an {MTE} rate of approximately 61.1%, there is room for improving efficiency. {MFI}s use more resources than necessary for the results achieved in terms of outreach and revenue generated. {O}ur results show heterogeneity of {MTE} according to the methodological approach of the studies. {S}tudies with a larger number of variables (inputs and outputs) produced higher {MTE} scores than did those with a smaller number of variables. {S}tudies using the variable returns to scale assumption resulted in higher {MTE} scores than those using constant returns to scale. {I}n addition, those with a production approach had higher {MTE}s than did those using the intermediation approach, while studies of a large number of {MFI}s had lower scores than did those involving a small sample size. {M}oreover, research estimating social efficiency generated lower {MTE}s compared to those estimating financial efficiency. {S}tudies using data from {A}frican {MFI}s obtained lower {MTE}s than did those on {MFI}s in {L}atin {A}merica and {MENA}, which confirms the poor performance of {A}frican microfinance.},
  keywords = {{AMERIQUE} {LATINE} ; {AFRIQUE} {DU} {NORD} ; {MOYEN} {ORIENT}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{W}orld {D}evelopment},
  volume = {107},
  numero = {},
  pages = {176--188},
  ISSN = {0305-750{X}},
  year = {2018},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.worlddev.2018.02.032},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010072586},
}