This is my Kiva page.
I started lending in Kiva last September. So far, i have successfully lent to 10 borrowers.(either fresh contribution from my side or reused the amount paid back by previous borrowers) My first borrower is still paying back. While my second borrower has paid back 100%. I was invited to join a group. I hesitated for a month and then joined. And never had a great conversation with the group so far. Honestly, i don't know what to contribute.
But i see an interesting pattern in my lending.
All my 10 loans are for females. Yes, i never favor lending to males as i strongly believe that a strong female always implies a strong family whereas a strong male need not necessarily imply the same.
I seem to have an instant aversion towards borrowers with more than 2 or to some extent 3 kids.
I seem to have a bias against lending to people who are slightly well off. In other words, i seem to look out for people who are struggling for the next day bread and lend to them or those who are trying to move away from poverty.
I seem to have a soft corner towards single parents.
I seem to have a soft corner towards borrowers who have mentioned about educating their children.
All my loans are only $25 and not more.
I have never once contributed to Kiva admin costs.
I seem to have a bias against lending to so called developed nation borrowers like USA, whereas i don't seem to have bias against regions based on ethnicity,religion and hey, i have even lent to a Pakistani borrowers :)
I hate loans which are meant for females, but the photo shows her male relative. I prefer to see the borrower photo even if she is completely covered in burqa.
I don't seem to like Group loans. Actually, i agree that this is a good model for recovery from micro finance perspective, but i never seem to feel a personal touch with the borrowers in case of group loans. But nowadays, i am consciously trying to overcome this bias.
And nowadays, i seem to look for a better repayment terms, as i think that it might help me to reuse the money often.
Also, initially, i used to lend only when the repayment amount is received fully. Later, i started contributing additional amount to the repayment amount for a new loan. Nowadays, i am consciously trying to lend once a month.
So, is there an economist out there who is analyzing the lending patterns of individuals? If yes, here is your first sample ;)
Anyways, all in all, i wonder whether i am lending for my own emotional selfish perspective?!
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5 comments:
This is really awesome what you're doing. I had no idea that such a brilliant initiative existed. One of the things I should remember when I start earning.
thanks :)
but i wonder whether this is a selfish cause as well...
Conventionally altruistic deeds done for selfish motives may seem weird on the face of it but I for one think it is a brilliant thing. That I think is the best form of charity, where the giver also benefits in some intangible way from the act. I laud you once again *Claps*.
I have been giving a certain amount of money that goes to a certain widow, every month for more than couple of years. I give that to a person whom I trust a lot.
He once said she wants to meet you, I declined. I do not have the strength to meet her. Who the hell am I? A god?
What you are doing is much better, even with biases. You are just maximizing the ROI :) in a noble way.
Keep your biases in open and well written in front of you, it'll be a lot more productive :)
PostMan,
Thats nice. There are moments when being anonymous is the best thing :)
And yes, i guess awareness of one's biases is the first step to overcome the same...
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