This paper presents a conceptual framework for explaining Credit Unions (CUs) loan delinquency and profitability in developing countries. It also offers an empirical estimation for a unique sample of CUs in Latin America.

Este análisis presenta un diagnóstico y señala los principales desafíos y alternativas de política que Costa Rica ha de enfrentar en la actual coyuntura en relación con su proceso de integración económica con el mundo. También se señalan posibles apoyos del Banco para abordar algunos...

Este documento brinda una perspectiva general y un análisis de los temas más importantes que enfrenta Nicaragua en su proceso de integración en la economía mundial y, al respecto, busca identificar los desafíos principales que el país enfrenta. También se hace referencia a las posibles...

Ante Honduras se abren nuevos e importantes desafíos en materia de comercio e integración. Este informe busca brindar una fotografía del desempeño del sector externo de Honduras, fundamentalmente el comercial, con miras a identificar esos desafíos a la luz de importantes acontecimientos: la...

This paper examines each major element of the village banking technology and how it has been liberalized so far, particularly in four leading Latin American village banking institutions: FINCA Nicaragua, Pro Mujer Bolivia, Compartamos (in Mexico), and CRECER (in Bolivia). It then analyzes how...

The current study gathers together a large database on the funding side of Latin American microfinance institutions (MFIs), providing detailed coverage of 61 regulated MFIs in nine Latin American countries with major microfinance markets. The study goes on to examine the relative costs of the...

Trade has become an increasingly important strategic objective for developing countries. This is a relatively new phenomenon for many of them. Hence the demand to intensify an insertion into the world economy often advances faster than their institutional capacities to formulate effective...

Banks are increasingly entering into microfinance, and donors such as the IDB are increasingly helping them to do so. Despite this trend, banks continue to make a number of common mistakes in attempting to serve the microenterprise sector. A key to successfully serving this sector is to follow...

This paper describes how to do equipment finance--leasing and lending--for mainstream microentrepreneurs, that is, for those microentrepreneurs needing approximately $50 to $2500 to purchase equipment. Specifically, this paper examines the pros and cons of the two major financing alternatives,...

In 2004-2006, Central America made significant efforts to complete its free trade area (FTA), further itsCustoms Union (CU) and launch the Central America-Dominican Republic-United States Free TradeAgreement (DR-CAFTA). There have been several breakthroughs on the road to economic union, but...