Microfinance As a Sustainable Solution for Alleviating Poverty

Microfinance As a Sustainable Solution for Alleviating Poverty
Author: Rebecca Rockey
Publisher: LAP Lambert Academic Publishing
Total Pages: 64
Release: 2010-11
Genre:
ISBN: 9783843378574

This book presents the hot topic of microfinance, comparing the success of microfinance institutions across two geographic regions: Africa and Asia (specifically sub-Saharan Africa [SSA] and south Asia). The success of a microfinance institution is defined by its outreach and sustainabilty, which indicate social and economic performance as well as impact. Looking more closely at poverty issues, sub-Saharan Africa poverty has essentialy doubled to 380 million (more than the U.S. population) over 20 years despite many political and economic attempts to restore economic growth. Comparing reforms taken by China and Vietnam that resulted in large and sustainable reductions in poverty, this book argues that sub-Saharan Africa has much larger issues outside of access to credit by the poor that hinder economic development. While microfinance shows to have played a role in smoothing consumption, it has not shown increased entrepreneurship or self-sufficiency and has not affected aggregate poverty levels at all.

Microfinance as a Sustainable Solution for Alleviating Poverty

Microfinance as a Sustainable Solution for Alleviating Poverty
Author: Rebecca S. Rockey
Publisher:
Total Pages: 57
Release: 2010
Genre:
ISBN:

This paper presents the hot topic of microfinance, comparing the success of microfinance institutions across two geographic regions: Africa and Asia (specifically sub-Saharan Africa [SSA] and south Asia). The success of a microfinance institution is defined by its outreach and sustainabilty, which indicate social and economic performance as well as impact. Looking more closely at poverty issues, poverty in sub-Saharan Africa has essentialy doubled to 380 million (more than the U.S. population) over the last 20 years despite many political and economic attempts to restore economic growth. Comparing reforms taken by China and Vietnam that resulted in large and sustainable reductions in poverty, this paper argues that sub-Saharan Africa has much larger issues outside of access to credit by the poor that hinder economic development. While microfinance shows to have played a role in smoothing consumption1, it has not shown increased entrepreneurship or self-sufficiency and has not affected aggregate poverty levels at all. This paper is organized as follows: the first section is an introduction to the theory of microcredit and microfinance; the second section presents a clearer defintion of microfinance goals and measures; the third section presents a brief history of microfinance (where it originated in Bangladesh); the fourth section discusses developmental policy and the role of finance in alleviating poverty (with a case study of China); and the fifth section analyzes the effectiveness of microfinance in alleviating povery in sub-Saharan Africa and combines my findings in a positive synthesis of the information offered.

Entrepreneurship and Sustainability

Entrepreneurship and Sustainability
Author: Paul W. Thurman
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 236
Release: 2016-04-29
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1317142594

In Entrepreneurship and Sustainability the editors and contributors challenge the notion that not-for-profit social entrepreneurship is the only sort that can lead to the alleviation of poverty. Entrepreneurship for profit is not just about the entrepreneur doing well. Entrepreneurs worldwide are leading successful for-profit ventures which contribute to poverty alleviation in their communities. With the challenge of global poverty before them, entrepreneurs continue to develop innovative, business-oriented ventures that deliver promising solutions to this complex and urgent agenda. This book explores how to bring commercial investors together with those who are best placed to reach the poorest customers. With case studies from around the World, the focus of the contributions is on the new breed of entrepreneurs who are blending a profit motive with a desire to make a difference in their communities and beyond borders. A number of the contributions here also recognize that whilst much research has been devoted to poverty alleviation in developing countries, this is only part of the story. Studies in this volume also focus upon enterprise solutions to poverty in pockets of significant deprivation in high-income countries, such as the Appalachia region of the US, in parts of Europe, and the richer Asian countries. Much has been written about the achievements of socially orientated non-profit microfinance institutions. This valuable, academically rigorous but accessible book will help academics, policy makers, and business people consider what the next generation of more commercially orientated banks for the 'bottom billion' might look like.

Microfinance and Poverty Reduction

Microfinance and Poverty Reduction
Author: Susan Johnson
Publisher: Oxfam
Total Pages: 148
Release: 1997
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9780855983697

The book emphasizes the importance of studying the local context, and then considering the macroeconomic factors which may be operating upon the economy of a particular country. Five extended case studies, in the Gambia, Ecuador, Mexico, Pakistan, and the UK are examined with reference to further aspects of sustainability and impact assessment.

Confronting Microfinance

Confronting Microfinance
Author: Milford Bateman
Publisher: Kumarian Press
Total Pages: 289
Release: 2011
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1565494377

Incorporates global perspective but focuses on southeastern Europe, a key arena for microfinance and microcredit programs --

Microfinance and Sustainable Development in Africa

Microfinance and Sustainable Development in Africa
Author: Alhassan, Yahaya
Publisher: IGI Global
Total Pages: 368
Release: 2021-12-10
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1799875016

The use of microfinance for poverty reduction and economic development in the developing world is growing. However, this concept needs to be expanded to ensure its successful application for achieving longer-term economic growth and sustainability in developing countries, particularly in parts of the world such as Africa. As such, further research into the relationship between microfinance and sustainable development in developing regions is required to fully understand the opportunities for effective use of microfinance for poverty reduction and economic development. Microfinance and Sustainable Development in Africa examines the complex relationship between receipt of microfinance, poverty reduction, economic growth, and microbusiness development, focusing on the provision of small credit facilities as a driver of sustainable development in Africa. Its coverage of topics such as microbusiness, social finance, and sustainable development make this book an ideal reference source for academicians, researchers, government officials, policymakers, organizations, managers, instructors, and students.

A Billion Bootstraps: Microcredit, Barefoot Banking, and The Business Solution for Ending Poverty

A Billion Bootstraps: Microcredit, Barefoot Banking, and The Business Solution for Ending Poverty
Author: Philip Smith
Publisher: McGraw Hill Professional
Total Pages: 250
Release: 2007-02-23
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0071508945

A bold manifesto by two business leaders, A Billion Bootstraps shows why microcredit is the world's most powerful poverty-fighting movement-and an unbeatable investment for your charitable donations. A Billion Bootstraps unearths the roots of the microcredit revolution, revealing how the pioneering work of people such as Dr. Muhammad Yunus-winner of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize-is giving hope to billions. Philanthropist and self-made millionaire Phil Smith and microcredit expert and consultant Eric Thurman provide a riveting narrative that explores how these small loans, arranged by “barefoot bankers,” enable impoverished people to start small businesses, support their families, and improve local economies. By paying back their loans instead of simply accepting handouts, men and women around the world are continually giving others the same opportunity to change their futures. Smith and Thurman also examine why traditional charity programs, while providing short-term relief, often perpetuate the problems they are trying to alleviate, and how applying investment principles to philanthropy is the key to reversing poverty permanently. A Billion Bootstraps explains how ordinary people can accelerate the microcredit movement by investing charitable donations in specific programs and then leveraging those contributions so the net cost to lift one person out of poverty is remarkably low. You'll discover how to get more for your money by donating with the mind-set of an investor and calculating measurable returns-returns that will change lives and societies forever.

The Microfinance Revolution

The Microfinance Revolution
Author: Marguerite Robinson
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 358
Release: 2001-06-01
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0821383388

Around the world, a revolution is occurring in finance for low-income people. The microfinance revolution is delivering financial services to the economically active poor on a large scale through competing, financially self-sufficient institutions. In a few countries this has already happened; in others it is under way. The emerging microfinance industry has profound implications for social and economic development. For the first time in history, capital is well on its way to being democratized. 'The Microfinance Revolution', in three volumes, is aimed at a diverse readership - economists, bankers, policymakers, donors, and social scientists; microfinance practitioners and specialists in local finance and rural and urban development; and members of the general public interested in development. This first volume, 'Sustainable Finance for the Poor', focuses on the shift from government- and donor-subsidized credit systems to self-sufficient microfinance institutions providing voluntary savings and credit services.

Microfinance and Poverty Alleviation

Microfinance and Poverty Alleviation
Author: Ben Quinones
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 362
Release: 2014-02-04
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1317762584

Despite the considerable economic growth of the Asia-Pacific, poverty continues to be a major problem. One key way to create sustainable livelihoods and to provide poor households an escape route from poverty is microfinance. Since the early 1980s, microfinance practitioners have proven that the poor are creditworthy, capable of utilizing scarce capital efficiently in viable incom-generating projects and able to pay back their loans. This book collects the experience of microfinance practitioners in 11 countries in the Asia-Pacific region to describe the present state of the art. It is designed to provide an overview of the subject: why it is so essential to poverty reduction; what is the best practice; what kind of policy framework and regulatory environment is required. It offers both an extensive survey of the academic literature and a selection of case studies, all from authors who have been active practitioners in microfinance for many years. The case studies cover four key countries in South Asia and three countries in East Asia in which microfinance had become particularly important. There is also a regional chapter covering the Pacific islands.