Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-4-2014
Publication Title
Corporate Governance
Volume
22
Issue
5
First Page
367
Last Page
386
Abstract
Manuscript Type: Empirical
Research Question/Issue: We utilize institutional theory to examine corporate governance in microfinance institutions (MFIs). Many MFIs operate at the bottom of the economic pyramid (BOP), which is usually agrarian, impoverished, and plagued with institutional voids. We investigate the link between the composition of the boards of MFIs and the ability of the MFIs to face institutional voids to ensure organizational viability.
Research Findings/Insights: We find that MFIs with boards that have more socio-economic expertise and female representation are better able to lower the MFI’s costs of operating at the BOP. However, this relationship weakens when the effectiveness of agrarian institutions at the BOP is low. When agrarian institutions are ineffective, the board of the MFI may have difficulty in helping the MFI reduce its costs of operating at the BOP. Agrarian crises arising from ineffective agrarian institutions tend to aggravate the various institutional voids present at the BOP, making it harder for the board to guide the MFI around the institutional voids.
Theoretical/Academic Implications: We extend institutional theory to understand how boards direct and control firms operating at the BOP to face institutional voids. In some cases, a firm can fill an institutional void. However, because other institutional voids exist, the board must also help the firm develop workarounds to ensure organizational viability. We extend existing literature on board composition to highlight how human capital and gender diversity of boards can help improve the viability of firms operating at the BOP.
Practitioner/Policy Implications: MFIs with high operating costs may benefit from electing a board with socio-economic expertise and female representatives. Governments and policy makers can work toward building effective social, economic, and political institutions to help create contexts that are favorable to firms (such as MFIs) that often find it difficult to operate at the BOP.
Recommended Citation
Chakrabarty, Subrata and Bass, A. Erin, "Corporate Governance in Microfinance Institutions: Board Composition and the Ability to Face Institutional Voids" (2014). Marketing and Management Faculty Publications. 7.
https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/mrktngmngmntfacpub/7
Comments
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Chakrabarty, S. & Bass, A.E. 2014. Corporate governance in microfinance institutions: board composition and the ability to face institutional voids. Corporate Governance – An International Review, 22(5): 367-386, which has been published in final form at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/corg.12071/abstract. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.