Background to the Problem Microfinance is a complex but important issue for both the average person, and the financial sector to understand. While the financial instruments used may be similar, the demographics of the users of microfinance is important to understand. The main purpose of the paper is to give the reader a better understanding of microfinance and provide a researched opinion on the overall impact of the practice. Matthew A. Pierce defines microfinance as “an emerging market in the financial services industry, aiming to provide small loans to low-income clients or small entrepreneurs who are traditionally overlooked by the mainstream credit markets” (2013). Microfinance also includes microcredit which is just specifically lines of credit under the envelope of microfinance. Microfinance includes other services such as savings accounts, checking accounts and other basic financial services. Microfinance is commonly done through a variety of Microfinance Institutions also known as MFIs. These institutions commonly offer a variety of services in addition to just monetary contributions. Depending on the country some microfinance institutions offer coaching, financial literacy courses and direct or indirect education about business or other topics. Some topics discussed in the paper include; the history of microfinance, the US versus global use of microfinance, and the overall economic impact on microfinance and how microfinance has evolved over the years.
Likewise, individuals may not need to borrow as much as a usual business loan minimum and to do so would put them in unnecessary debt. Thankfully, some credit unions can offer microloans as little as $200. Such loans could be the key factor for a local family to start a small town business, which promotes economic growth in a community. Without a credit union’s aid, these small businesses would be unable to even begin, thus taking away an opportunity for both the community and its
10. In class we briefly discussed Micro Finance institutions (MFIs). What markets do MFIs typically serve? What are the major criticisms of MFIs? What financial institutions in the US closely resemble MFIs?
In both developing and emerging economies, microfinance has vastly and increasingly been seen as one of the most important means for enhancing the lives of the poor and therefore a major tool for economic and social development mostly in rural areas. Lately, contrary to this widespread belief, critics have raised eyebrows against this growing popularity of microfinance as a major tool for enhancing economic development. Contrary to belief, they are of the opinion that microfinance is a ‘make-belief’ that is hindering economic and social development rather than enhancing it.
Many families in developing nations do not have sustainability in their lives. In her article, “Microfinance Empowering Female Entrepreneurs”, Elizabeth Matsangou writes, “starting and growing a business is virtually impossible without access to financial services.” Basically, Matsangou is saying that in order to start a business, you need help with the use of micro-loans. Further proving the point that micro-loans that empower women and women need these loans. Many women in developing countries start micro-enterprises to help raise money for their family. With this in mind, it is obvious to see what kind of positive impact micro-loans can have on women. Starting businesses are nearly impossible without the use of micro-loans, proving that they can help empower
Microfinancing produces many benefits for poverty stricken, or low- income households. One of the benefits is that it is very accessible. Banks today simply won’t extend loans to those with little to no assets, and generally don’t engage in small size loans typically associated with microfinancing. Through microfinancing small loans are produced and accessible. Microfinancing is based on the philosophy that even small amounts of credit can help end the cycle of poverty. Another benefit produced from the microfinancing initiative is that it presents opportunities, such as extending education and jobs. Families receiving microfinancing are less likely to pull their children out of school for economic reasons. As well, in relation to employment,
In the same way Khandker state that, microfinance reduces poverty by increasing consumption among participants and their families. Degree of poverty reduction evaluate on the based on consumption impacts of credit show that about 5% of program participants can improved their families out of poverty each year by participating and borrowing from microfinance programs. (Khandker S. R., 1998, p.
In this documentary, Tom Heinemann (the director) provides a sharp critique of microfinance in the world. The documentary pertains critically to the work of Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh. Tom Heinemann tells an unpopular and confronting story about how microfinance, although innovative, leaves few to prosper and the many poor being financially “strapped”. This documentary has caused a flood of criticism about microfinance, while diminishing the reputation of Grameen Bank’s founder, Muhammad Yunus. I feel that The Micro Debt does not shed the full light onto microfinance, yet it is becoming increasingly hard to ignore its effects.
Muhammad Yunus, Founder of the Grameen Bank is often hailed as the architect of microfinance lending and has been praised around the world for his work and even awarded the Nobel Peace prize in 2006. The concept of microfinance is to lend small portions of money to poor people who could not have otherwise acquired a loan from a regular bank. Microfinance banks give the poor a small loan with incredibly high interest rates in the hope that the borrower will create a business or some form of income creating venture to sustain themselves and pay back their loans. Not only is that person left with a way to support themselves, but it also creates jobs in the community. These banks have noticed that when the money was lent to a family through the woman of the household, it went a longer way than if the man of the household received the loan. Yunus has noticed even within the Grameen Bank that “Poor women [have] an amazing skill, the skill of managing a scarce resource.” (12) Studies have shown that if a mother is receiving income the first beneficiaries are her children. The effects of this are amazing, many communities have seen a rise in school enrollment and improved child survival rates because women are more likely to spend money on food for their children and health care than are fathers. There is a saying, “If you give a man a fish, he will eat
Discuss in detail the event, the people involved, and its background and impact of America.
Microeconimcs is the branch of economics that studies and analyzes the market behavior of both individual firms and consumers to help understand the decision-making process of companies and households. It analyzes the relationships between both buyers and seller and at the same time studies the factors that influence the choices of both those parties. Lots of people get Macroeconimics confused with Microeconomics, and the main difference is that Macroeconomics forcuses on the bigger picture. While Macroeconimcs focuses on the national economy as a whole and the basics of the business world, Microeconomics focusses on just the opposite, this being supply and demand and how small businesses price different merchandise. The main building
Peer to Peer lending is a unique method that links borrowers and lenders relatively quick and inexpensive without financial intermediaries. With technological advances in recent years including the boom of electronic money, transactions in peer to peer lending programs have become more and more commonly used around the globe. This type of financial service carries both advantages (peer to peer communities have a quick and easy online application process for both lenders and borrowers (Schneider 2008)) and disadvantages (potential exposure to more risk) for those lending their funds as well as people taking out these loans.
What is microlending? In simplest terms microlending is the lending of very small amounts of money at low interest, to low income people in urban and rural areas. It started forty years ago, when a person named Muhammad Yunus was visiting his family and his country Bangladesh which had recently become an independent country. Muhammad Yunus had left his home country then –East Bengal- when he was a child with his parents in search of a better future. He graduated from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, with a PhD in economics. Muhammad Yunus is the founder of Grameen Bank, the first non-profit organization to offer microfinance services in Bangladesh and in the world (New York Times). This bank showed the world on how little
It is said that a good deed can brighten even the darkest of worlds. Opportunities to help others can come in a variety of ways and each is important, in its own respect. While microfinancing and charitable programs both have their respective benefits, in certain circumstances one may be more appropriate than the other. Charity should be implemented in times of emergency because it provides short term aid with no strings, prevents banks from capitalizing on tragedy and provides massive aid, whereas microfinancing loans should be utilized so that individual borrowers experience long term assistance and so that jobs can be created in impoverished areas.
The use of microfinance as a tool to tackle poverty can be dated all the way back to the 19th century when some scholars and economists talked about encouraging entrepreneurs and farmers to take small credits in order to get out of poverty. The Microfinance model we use today got it root from the Grameen Bank created by Dr. Muhammad Yunus from Bangladesh. When he returned home from the United States with his PhD in economics, he found out that established organizations like the World Bank is not doing a good enough job helping poor
Microfinance are the financial institutions who provide loans or funds to individuals who do not possess the actual documents which can be submitted to banks to seek/borrow loans. These individuals can be entrepreneurs and small scale business owners. Microfinance institutions mostly function in developing countries when compared to developed countries. They are almost similar to banks with regards to the nature of functioning, for instance, they fund people who would like to start a poultry business (farmers), transportation and restaurants.