Performance and impact of microfinance : evidence from joint liability lending programs in Malawi

This study assesses the performance and impact of microfinance from group lending schemes with joint liability in Malawi. The study applies econometric models to technology adoption by farm households and to moral hazard and intra-group risk sharing to address the following objectives: to determine factors influencing the incidence of moral hazard among credit groups, to examine the extent to which intra-group insurance occurs, to investigate its underlying determinants, to assess the impact of households' access to credit on the adoption of hybrid maize among households that vary in their credit constraints, and to assess the effect of credit on risk attitudes. The study recommends a number of microfinance policies as a way of improving performance and impact of microfinance.