Units

Centre for European Research in Microfinance (CERMi)

Person in charge of the Unit : Oui

The CERMi is de Microfinance department of the Centre Emile Bernheim and the Facultés Warocqué. This center gathers researchers from different backgrounds and it aims at studying all major aspects of microfinance development.Its objectives are to stimulate microfinance research, particularly among doctoral students, and to support Belgian and European authorities to better understand the multidisciplinary factors influencing both the development of microfinance and the effective management of microfinance institutions.The CERMi particularly focuses on the governance and management of microfinance institutions. From a larger perspective, it also studies developing countries regulations and public policies, the role of central banks and the one of donors. The links between microfinance and traditional financial sector will also be studied. Last but not least, ethical aspects of microfinance in developing countries will also be a topic of research.

Centre for Economic and Social Studies on the Environment

Person in charge of the Unit : Oui

The CESSE was created following the first United Nations Conference on human environment, which was held in Stockholm in 1972. It is made up of a pluri-disciplinary research team which devotes its activities to the qualitative and quantitative evaluation of economic-societal-environmental interactions.   Research carried out concerns mainly the following areas: - costs of damage caused to the environment and to health (externalities) in relation to the behaviour of economic agents; - cost-benefit and cost-efficiency analyses;- economic tools (taxes, emissions trading market, flexible mechanisms); - life-cycle analyses and inventory; - sustainable development indicators.

Projetcs

Microfinance in Developing Countries

The 4 research topics of the CERMi are: - New products and innovation in microfinance - Corporate governance in Microfinance - Public policy in microfinance - Ethical aspects of microfinance