I have just posted a working paper on the welfare economics
of microcredit and payday lending.
I was struck by Muhammad Yunus's autobiography Banker to the Poor, discussing the foundations
of microcredit and the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh.
13, 2006: This distinguished Nobel Peace Prize recipient pioneered the use
of microcredits through the Grameen Bank, which he established in his native Bangladesh in 1983; many for - profit and nonprofit ventures these days utilize the same concept when investing in underprivileged regions.
Not exact matches
Of course development has evolved with
microcredit and grants to empower local entrepreneurs.
Following an initial (very) small grant from an NGO, the bank's operations are funded by a) interest from
microcredit loans (up to 3.5 % monthly but also as low as 1 % depending on size
of and purpose
of loan) b) fees from the corresponding bank (i.e. Banco Palmas acts as local agent for regional bank to widen access to banking services), and c) commission for changing Palmas to Reais16.
We empower the world's poorest people with
microcredit, giving them a chance to create or expand a home - based business to lift themselves and their families out
of poverty.
Crowding into his spartan office, the villagers updated him on their new information center and their effort to build a
microcredit system using computers to keep a database
of local banks and people.
This year, a series
of randomized control trials found that
microcredit — the extension
of small loans to the poor — brings little lasting benefit to loan recipients, a deflating finding that the international development community is «still trying to digest,» he says.
As part
of the loan application process you will need to contact a
microcredit worker at one
of these locations.
In announcing the $ 1.4 million prize to a surprise winner, from a field
of over 190 candidates, Nobel Committee director Ole Danbolt Mjoes said «Lasting peace can not be achieved unless large population groups find ways in which to break out
of poverty,» he went on, «
Microcredit is one such means.