In most Asian countries including Vietnam, inadequate access of small farmers and microentepreneurs including women and the poor to effective financial services presents a major challenge. Such services must include facilities to deposit microsavings, access to microcredit for production,...

Our knowledge about microfinance in developing countries has been greatly enriched in recent years by the experience of numerous institutions. Different sound technologies and practices of financial services to all segments of the population have emerged; there is no single best practice or...

This paper surveys recent research on micro-finance and suggests directions for future research. New empirical evidence has emerged, and new theoretical models have resolved some issues. The paper selectively examines recent findings, particularly theoretical and empirical works that deal with...

This paper surveys recent research on microfinance and suggests directions for future research. New empirical evidence has emerged, and new theoretical models have resolved some issues. The paper selectively examines recent findings, particularly theoretical and empirical works that deal with...

The constraint on informal finance is commonly taken to be high costs and limited supply. But the majority of informal investors - family and friends - is often willing to supply funds at negative returns, and yet many borrowers tap family and friends only as a last resort. We explain this...