Micro credit and Territory - Portugal as a case study

This paper studies the relations between micro credit and territory, assuming that micro credit is an important instrument for fighting against poverty and social exclusion. Based on a micro-level database provided by ANDC (Associação Nacional de Direito ao Crédito), we developed a statistical and econometric work in order to identify the territorial idiosyncrasies associated with the employment of micro credit in Portugal. Focusing on the survival of the micro credit projects in the period of 2006-2009, our study sustains the significance of variables such as the population density, the value added growth in each activity and the promoters’ qualifications, besides two regional dummies, for firms’ survival.