Abstract
The competitive advantage and the distinctive feature of microfinance relative to conventional lending and saving institutions lie in its core mission of providing access to financial services to those considered unbankable by the formal financial services industry. This is based on the idea of inclusion and on the belief that increasing access to financial services should encourage entrepreneurial activity, generate growth and contribute to the alleviation of poverty (Khavul et al., 2013). It is also generally accepted that providing the unbankable with access to financial services should contribute to the empowerment of weaker populations and help them to build individual and social capital (Howson, 2012; Bateman, 2010).
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Promoting Microfinance |
| Subtitle of host publication | Challenges and Innovations in Developing Countries and Countries in Transition |
| Publisher | Palgrave Macmillan |
| Pages | 3-16 |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9781137034915 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781137034908 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1 Jan 2013 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited 2013.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Economics, Econometrics and Finance
- General Business, Management and Accounting
