Microfinance

Microfinance has become an important component of development, poverty reduction and economic regeneration strategy around the world. By the early twenty first century tens of millions of people in more than 100 countries were accessing services from formal and semi-formal microfinance institutions (MFIs). Much of the initial attention on microcredit came through work on Bangladesh’s much-lauded Grameen Bank but, there are now many different ‘models’ for microfinance and many countries have substantial microfinance sectors. This timely book, written by one of the major players in the UK in development economics explores, amongst others, topics such as:microfinance and poverty reduction microfinance, gender and social development microinsurance regulating and supervising microfinance institutions.Topical and insightful, this important text examines what has become a vast global industry employing hundreds of thousands of people and attracting the attention of large numbers of governments, banks, aid agencies, non-governmental organizations and consultancy firms.

"Microfinance: A Reader brings together leading voices to give readers a first-hand introduction to the arguments that animate the sector. The book gives readers a front-row seat to the debates through which scholars and practitioners have re-imagined the roles of markets, subsidies, and development interventions."Jonathan Morduch, Professor of Public Policy and Economics at New York University Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and co-author of The Economics of Microfinance"This is a book that weaves together issues and debates on microfinance, both classic and contemporary with a forward looking perspective. A must have for microfinance enthusiasts."Dr Imran Matin, Executive Director, BRAC-Africa"Here's where to direct people who ask for a deeper understanding of microfinance. Hulme and Arun have chosen readings that touch on all the major themes, and set them between essays on where microfinance came from and where it's going. Just what's needed." Stuart Rutherford

David Hulme is Professor of Development Studies at the Institute for Development Policy and Management, Associate Director of the Brooks World Poverty Institute and Director of the Chronic Poverty Research Centre at the University of Manchester. Thankom Arun is Professor of Development Finance and Public Policy at Lancashire Business School, University of Central Lancashire and Honorary Senior Fellow at the School of Environment and Development at the University of Manchester.