Abstract
Microfinance is deemed as a viable means to alleviate poverty through encouraging entrepreneurial activity. Recently, a new form of microfinance, namely prosocial microlending, is gaining popularity. Different from traditional for-profit microfinance, prosocial microlending is both financial and prosocial in nature. Despite its rapid expansion, there is a lack of understanding on whether and how this new form of microfinance affects entrepreneurship in emerging economies. In this study, we evaluate the impact of the introduction of the world's largest prosocial microlending platform (i.e., Kiva.org) into emerging economies on entrepreneurial activity. Using a cross-national research setting, our results show that the introduction of Kiva.org into emerging economies has a positive effect on entrepreneurial activity. More interestingly, this relationship is contingent on the socioeconomic development of countries (i.e., political, economic, and social institutions). Our study makes both theoretical and practical contributions to the understanding of microfinance, socioeconomic development, and entrepreneurship in emerging economies.
Original language | English (US) |
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Title of host publication | Americas Conference on Information Systems 2018 |
Subtitle of host publication | Digital Disruption, AMCIS 2018 |
Publisher | Association for Information Systems |
ISBN (Print) | 9780996683166 |
State | Published - 2018 |
Event | 24th Americas Conference on Information Systems 2018: Digital Disruption, AMCIS 2018 - New Orleans, United States Duration: Aug 16 2018 → Aug 18 2018 |
Publication series
Name | Americas Conference on Information Systems 2018: Digital Disruption, AMCIS 2018 |
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Other
Other | 24th Americas Conference on Information Systems 2018: Digital Disruption, AMCIS 2018 |
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Country/Territory | United States |
City | New Orleans |
Period | 8/16/18 → 8/18/18 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2018 Association for Information Systems. All rights reserved.
Keywords
- Emerging economies
- Entrepreneurship
- Institution
- Prosocial microlending
- Socioeconomic development