While it is clear that some countries are bank oriented and others rely more on equity financing, there is little research on the degree to which the national architecture for financial intermediation is determined by legal, cultural, and other national characteristics. Using panel analysis of...

Microfinance institutions’ (MFIs) preference for women borrowers varies internationally and the MFI focus on women borrowers is generally attributed to two reasons: women borrowers are more trustworthy and have greater social impact. However, the role of social trust with regard to this gender...