An analysis of factors affecting the ethical conduct of microcredit officers

Abstract

This study examines the ethical conduct of productive microcredit officers, a type of credit that offers small sums to low income customers. In this modality, the microcredit officer performs important work in granting or denying credit in poor communities, and may be exposed to situations of ethical decision-making, such as denying credit to acquaintances in the community where the agent lives. Based on the models of Ferrell, Fraedrich and Ferrell (2009) and Kohlberg (1969) the study examines which factors influence the ethical behavior of this public. The results show that the importance given by the agent to his/her job and the individual sensitivity that denying credit may have, influences his/her ethical behavior. It is recommended that these results be used in the hiring and training of these agents, which can improve ethical decision-making on microcredit.