interventions. It then goes on to discuss what was learned about the impact of microfinance, educational transfer, and agricultural … technology development programs from the life-history narratives. The life-history interviews show that microfinance services are … income-generating activity at some time. Microfinance contributed to at least one of the three or four most important causes …

, their investment plans are stifled and it becomes harder for them to break out of poverty. If households have no access to … the pathway out of poverty more arduous than necessary. Inadequate access to financial services is thus part of what is … often called the “poverty trap.” …