Why isn't there more financial intermediation in developing countries?

Arbeitspapier

This paper proposes to organize thinking about the opportunities for improving and extending financial markets and safety nets for the poor, by focusing on factors that may explain why the linkage of local financial networks and safety nets with the larger economy often fails or is incomplete. Understanding the nature of these impediments is the first step in proposing policies to help promote more effective linkage and intermediation. We propose four explanations for the slowness of adoption of intermediation (high costs of delegated monitoring aggravated by limited intermediary capital; lock-in and crowding out effects from local insurance arrangements, social norms against cooperation with intermediaries; and political resistance to new institutions that shift the balance of power in local polities). Of course, financial repression and weak legal systems remains important as cause of lack of intermediation. We conclude with a review of public policy for more effective intermediation.

Object Details

• ISBN: 929190175X
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: WIDER Discussion Paper ; No. 2002/28

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Economic Development: Financial Markets; Saving and Capital Investment; Corporate Finance and Governance ; Agricultural Finance ; Economic History: Financial Markets and Institutions: General, International, or Comparative
• Subject: financial intermediation ; mutual insurance ; safety nets ; microfinance ; microcredit ; Finanzintermediär ; Entwicklungsländer ; Privatversicherung ; Mikrofinanz

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Conning, Jonathan ; Kevane, Michael
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): The United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER)
• (where): Helsinki
• (when): 2002

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/53073
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:42 AM CET