Mikrofinanzierungen – Chancen für die Entwicklungspolitik und ...

Institute of Management Berlin (IMB) Working paper No.39
Fachhochschule für Wirtschaft Berlin - Berlin School of Economics
Biographic note:
Paul P. Maeser, geboren 1985 in Bremen, studierte Betriebswirtschaftslehre mit dem Schwerpunkt Bank-
wissenschaften an der Fachhochschule für Wirtschaft Berlin. Seine Hauptinteressengebiete sind internatio-
nale Wirtschaftsbeziehungen, die Auswirkungen geldpolitischer Eingriffe auf die reale Wirtschaft, sowie Ri-
sikosteuerung in Banken und Unternehmen. Unter anderem untersuchte er 2006 in New York Möglichkei-
ten zur Absicherung von Risiken in Kreditportfolios. Er erhielt einen Bachelor of Arts von der Berlin School
of Economics und arbeitet seit 2008 im Zins- und Währungsmanagement bei der Deutsche Bank AG.
Paul P. Maeser, Deutsche Bank AG, Capital Market Sales, Unter den Linden 13/15, 10117 Berlin, Germa-
ny. E-mail: paul.maeser@db.com. Tel.: +49 - 30 - 3407 - 2672
Abstract:
This paper deals with the opportunities of microfinance for developing countries and examines the ne-
cessary framework for a successful implementation of a microcredit program. The study asks what must be
fulfilled in advance in order to make microfinance a valuable support for developing politics.
In addition, the survey compares microfinance to other, more traditional instruments of economic cooperati-
on and demonstrates why a combination of them can be both useful and destructive.
With regard to these findings, two case studies present practical experience with microfinance institutes
and analyze the projects on their effectiveness.
The research paper infers that microfinance is a useful tool to fight poverty but its possible effects are most-
ly limited on income enhancement and stabilization only, whereas it cannot be expected that a microfinance
strategy alone will lead to, e.g. a women’s empowerment or better educational opportunities. Additionally,
the survey comes to the conclusion that the success of a microfinance program is mostly dependent on sta-
ble prices, the embedment into a coordinated development strategy and sound legal conditions, such as
the existence of property rights.
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