The innovation necessity: Evidence from microcredit in the Dominican Republic

This study examines the role of business innovation as an important, but understudied intervening relationship between microcredit loans and income level. Using archival and survey data of microcredit clients from the Dominican Republic, the study finds that loan size has a positive effect on income level, but only in the presence of business innovation. We find that greater business training in relation to competitors is a significant indicator of business innovation. The findings also suggest that personal characteristics and competitive environment play a joint, but opposite role with innovation in predicting income level.