Credit risk in the microfinance industry: The role of gender affinity
研究发现在发展中国家的小额信贷机构中，女性信贷员比例越高，贷款组合风险越大，但女性信贷员与女性借款人之间的性别亲和力会降低违约率。
This study explores the role played by gender in lending transactions and specifically its effects on the loan portfolio credit risk of microfinance institutions (MFIs). Using a multicountry data set of developing countries, where MFIs mainly operate, the analysis shows that a higher proportion of female loan officers increases the loan portfolio at risk. Nonetheless, we also find that this positive relationship is negatively mediated by the gender affinity between female loan officers and female borrowers. Gender affinity suggests that female loan officers are more likely to lend to female borrowers, and this reduces the default rate of loans offered by MFIs.