Supervision and Regulation in the Context of Financial Liberalization: Bolivia, Mexico, and Colombia

Abstract

This paper examines the regulatory framework for microfinance in three countries: Mexico, Bolivia, and Colombia, each with very different experiences in financial reform, financial crisis, and microfinance. It explores the impact of financial reform and crisis on the choices regulatory authorities have made about microfinance, and in turn, explores how these choices have affected the character of the microfinance industry in each country. It also addresses the elements of good microfinance regulation, beginning with the financial sector environment needed to advance microfinance and continuing with preparation of supervisors and specific norms adapted for microfinance. These topics are illustrated by comparing experiences and policies on the three subject countries.

Keywords: Microfinance, MFI, Mexico, Bolivia, Colombia

JEL Classification: O1, N86, N36