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The role of informal microfinance institutions in saving

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2.1.7: THE ROLE OF STOCK MARKET IN PROMOTING INVESTMENT IN TANZANIA.<br />

<strong>The</strong> stock market is part <strong>of</strong> f<strong>in</strong>ancial markets, which comprises the totality <strong>of</strong> systems<br />

through which f<strong>in</strong>ancial resources are attracted and guided to <strong>in</strong>vestments. A sound<br />

stock market is a dom<strong>in</strong>ant condition for economic development. This paper explores<br />

the philosophy <strong>of</strong> establish<strong>in</strong>g stock markets and their <strong>role</strong>s <strong>in</strong> rais<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>vestments<br />

funds.<br />

Any doubts about the importance <strong>of</strong> domestic markets <strong>in</strong> ensur<strong>in</strong>g a balanced<br />

economic growth should have been dispelled follow<strong>in</strong>g the experience <strong>of</strong> most<br />

countries s<strong>in</strong>ce the 1980s. For African Countries <strong>in</strong> particular the chronic problems <strong>of</strong><br />

national and corporate <strong>in</strong>debtedness have driven home and the futility <strong>of</strong> comb<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g<br />

too much short-term debt with too little long-term equity. <strong>The</strong> roots <strong>of</strong> this problem<br />

especially for some countries <strong>in</strong> the sub-region like Tanzania are partly to be found <strong>in</strong><br />

the activities <strong>of</strong> multilateral and regional agencies which <strong>in</strong> the past tended to place<br />

great emphasis on development f<strong>in</strong>ance <strong><strong>in</strong>stitutions</strong> and the bank<strong>in</strong>g system, by<br />

focus<strong>in</strong>g on <strong>in</strong>termediation, to the near total exclusion <strong>of</strong> f<strong>in</strong>ancial markets, on-<br />

bank<strong>in</strong>g f<strong>in</strong>ancial <strong><strong>in</strong>stitutions</strong> and risk capital.<br />

Stock markets are now emerg<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> many African Countries <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g Tanzania.<br />

2.1.8: <strong>The</strong> Need for Stock Markets<br />

Stock markets are essential because they allow competition between various <strong>in</strong>struments <strong>of</strong> a<br />

bank-based f<strong>in</strong>ancial system and non-bank f<strong>in</strong>ancial <strong>in</strong>termediaries. In addition they allow risk<br />

shar<strong>in</strong>g on an <strong>in</strong>dividual basis, without the need for a government guarantee; <strong>of</strong>fer <strong>in</strong>struments<br />

which do not suffer from a cash-flow mismatch; and facilitate the development <strong>of</strong> other<br />

f<strong>in</strong>ancial markets such as derivative markets.<br />

By allow<strong>in</strong>g competition, stock markets are better able to satisfy each <strong>in</strong>vestor’s risk, return<br />

and horizon preferences. In most <strong>of</strong> Africa’s bank-based f<strong>in</strong>ancial system, the choices for<br />

lenders and borrowers are very restricted to safe but low and <strong>of</strong>ten negative real rates <strong>of</strong><br />

103

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