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Microfinance Is A Complex Important Issue For Both The Average Person, And The Financial Sector

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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.

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