MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Representatives Of Cambridge, Care, Center For Global Development, SKS Microfinance Discuss "Does Microfinance Help People Escape Poverty?"

Associate director Ms Madeleine Bunting of British newspaper The Guardian recently facilitated a discussion to address the question of whether microfinance helps reduce poverty with Mr Ha-Joon Chang, Cambridge University economist; Mr Ajaz Khan, microfinance advisor for Swiss nonprofit organization Care International; Mr David Roodman, senior fellow at US-based, nonprofit think tank Center for Global Development; and Mr Vikram Akula, chairperson and founder of Indian microfinance institution (MFI) SKS Microfinance [1]. Mr Chang suggests the role of microfinance in poverty alleviation has been exaggerated by “grand claims” that have sold it as a “main vehicle for economic development”. Rather, he believes that microfinance has a “useful limited role to play” within a comprehensive set of interventions. Mr Khan argues Care International's position that........ Read the full article here.

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