Recent debates over microfinance regulatory frameworks have misunderstood an important instrument: repayment frequency. Despite recent laws mandating lower microfinance repayment frequency under the banner of consumer protection, this Comment argues that repayment frequency is unable to protect borrowers beyond what substantive anti-coercion rights and procedural law can, and have begun to, accomplish. Moreover, repayment frequency, because of its link to meetings in group lending schemes, can produce social capital among borrowers, a byproduct that has been ignored in regulatory debates. By using a more holistic framework to measure financial regulation’s effects, this Comment recommends reconsidering laws forbidding weekly repayment.
Recent debates over microfinance regulatory frameworks have misunderstood an important instrument: repayment frequency. Despite recent laws mandating lower microfinance repayment frequency under the banner of consumer protection, this Comment argues that repayment frequency is unable to protect borrowers beyond what substantive anti-coercion rights and procedural law can, and have begun to, accomplish. Moreover, repayment frequency, because of its link to meetings in group lending schemes, can produce social capital among borrowers, a byproduct that has been ignored in regulatory debates. By using a more holistic framework to measure financial regulation’s effects, this Comment recommends reconsidering laws forbidding weekly repayment.