2013 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
日本の零細企業への新たな融資制度構築～グラミン銀行モデルの応用
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24530382
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| Research Institution | Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University |
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Principal Investigator |
BARAI Munim 立命館アジア太平洋大学, 国際経営学部, 教授 (50584017)
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| Keywords | Grameen Bank / Micro Finance / Focus Group / Institutional Structure / Group Lending / Microcredit / Informal Lenders / Micro Enterprise |
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| Research Abstract |
The plan for FY2013 of the research was the fact finding on "Grameen Bank" (GB). The research proposal identified some factors for exploration within the ambit of the research. They were the institutional structure of GB and as a financial product how it is successfully operating in Bangladesh.
This phase of research involved basically two methods: a literature and experience survey and a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on Grameen Bank. During this Financial Year, I collected and went through a wide number of books, journal articles and research papers to understand the Japanese Financial System and Grameen Bank of Bangladesh. I continued to evaluate the FGD outcomes through the analysis of the audio and video recordings. The research indicates that when microcredit as a financial product is maturing, a number of criticisms related to the rate of interest, poverty reduction impact, emergence of informal money lenders in the micro credit institution (MCI)-infested areas and a possible macro-imbalance in the net worth position of the borrowers appears. However, with no immediate substitute in sight, I argue that the benefits of microcredit more than offset its unintended pitfalls arising on its way toward maturity. During FY2013, I visited Bangladesh and India for the field study. My attendance and my preparation and presentation of the conference paper contributed to the success of the conference and made me well versed on the functioning of Grameen Bank Model of Microcredit in Bangladesh.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.
Reason
I am progressing mostly well except for some designated activities in AY2013. The research proposal identifies the following questions:
1) What is the size of "gray zone" in the finance market of Japan that needs alternative sources of financing?
2) How will a microfinance model designed after the “GB model of microcredit” in Bangladesh work to cater to the financial needs of individuals and microenterprises and help technology diffusion and poverty reduction of the participants in the gray zone?
3) What should be the institutional framework of the model for its ownership and implementation and monitoring of program?
4) What are the impacts of any extra-pushed finance on the productivity and growth in the Japanese economy?
Of these 4 questions to be answered in 3 years, I have covered number one, two and partially three. By conducting field visits and organizing a roundtable in Bangladesh, I have gained an idea of the operational technicalities of Grameen Bank Model of Microcredit. This forms the foundation for developing a model for Japan. From my research activities in Bangladesh, I have conceived the idea that a restructuring of the GB Model for Japan should be based on deeper consideration of many aspects including ownership structure, capitalization of the lending bodies, mode of lending, areas of financing, rate of interest, etc. However, to address question number three fully, I need to conduct field visits in Japan and organize an FGD to talk to the target group. I was planning to do these in the 2nd year of my research but was not able to.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
I have a number of planned activities for my research for FY2014. They are as follows:
1) Visiting USA to observe and understand the functioning of the Replica of Grameen Bank. This forms a very important part of the research as this will give an idea of the GB replicas working in a developed country like the US. Designing a model for Japan can greatly be helped by understanding the functioning of the GB in the developed country.
2) Organizing a focus group discussion (FGD) in a city in Japan to understand the viewpoints of the Japanese stakeholders in developing a financial model to finance microenterprises.
3) Conducting a field survey with a sample of 75-100 respondents including individuals, small businesses and microenterprises. The survey will be designed to get ideas from them on ownership structure, capitalization of the lending bodies, mode of lending, areas of financing, rate of interest, mode of repayments, security coverage of the financial organizations in the business, regulatory body, role and relationship of the government with the FIs, etc.
4) Attending seminars/conferences in Japan and overseas. The presentation of the papers will be related or relevant areas of the research.
5) Writing a research report.
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| Expenditure Plans for the Next FY Research Funding |
I was planning to conduct a focus group discussion (FGD) and have a sample survey done during AY2013. Due to some logistic and organizational mismatch I could not complete those activities and am planning to finish them in AY2014 along with a number of research activities related to the research. To complete the research successfully, these activities are vital and they each will require substantial funds to finish.
A short list of actions requiring funds is given as follows:
1) Visiting USA to see the functioning of the Replica of Grameen Bank. 2) Organizing a focus group discussion (FGD) in a Japanese city. 3) Attending at least one seminar/conference in Japan and one overseas. 4) Conducting a field survey with a sample of 40-50 respondents including individuals, small businesses and microenterprises, experts, academics and others. 5) Employing research assistants and field investigators for the field survey. 6) Entering data. The data/information collected from the survey will then be inputted with the help of specially designed software. 7) Purchasing stationery, books, journals and other budgeted materials.
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Research Products
(4 results)
