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Taking Stock of the Evidence on Microfinancial Interventions

In: The Economics of Poverty Traps

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  • Francisco J. Buera
  • Joseph P. Kaboski
  • Yongseok Shin

Abstract

We review the empirical evidence on microfinance and asset grants to the ultra poor or microentrepreneurs and use quantitative economic theory to account for this evidence. Properly executed, these interventions can help segments of the population increase their income and consumption, but neither literature gives much reason to believe that such interventions can lead to wide-scale, transformative impacts akin to escaping aggregate poverty traps.
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Suggested Citation

  • Francisco J. Buera & Joseph P. Kaboski & Yongseok Shin, 2017. "Taking Stock of the Evidence on Microfinancial Interventions," NBER Chapters, in: The Economics of Poverty Traps, pages 189-221, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberch:13833
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • O1 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development
    • O11 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O16 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Financial Markets; Saving and Capital Investment; Corporate Finance and Governance

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