The Evolution of Microfinance Strategies, Outline Example

Definition of the subject, expanded to reflect targeted populations: “Microfinance is a popular poverty alleviation and development strategy that provides small-scale formal financial products and services such as loans, savings, insurance and pensions to poor people” (Schwittay 9).

Background on microfinance initiatives; development and increasing emphasis on devising finance systems assisting those in need; noting global activity.

Microfinance as developed with an emphasis on empowerment of poor women, supported by research: “Woman-run businesses tend to benefit family members more directly than those run by men” (Dineen, Le 23).

Issues and challenges in global microfinance activity; specific nations cited; motivations of credit suppliers as not in keeping with general agendas or goals of microfinance, as in restrictions on lending to the poor based on risk: “Results reveal no evidence that real-world risky borrowers (subjects from delinquent borrowing groups) have a tendency to prefer risky choices” (Zeballos, Cassar, & Wydick 278).

Focus on microfinance as uniquely problematic in the U.S.; how the highly industrialized nation offers support not provided by developing countries more in need of microfinance programs: “In the United States, there are social services that protect citizens despite unemployment” (Sloan 516).

Conclusion, presenting potential advances in the international evolution of microfinance; suggestions as to global cooperation, tax incentives, promoting greater microfinance support .

Works Cited

Dineen, Katherine, and Quan V. Le. “The impact of an integrated microcredit program on the empowerment of women and gender equality in rural Vietnam.” The Journal of Developing Areas 49.1 (2015): 23-38.

Schwittay, Anke. “Representing financial inclusion: The CGAP microfinance photo contest” (Respond to this article at http://www. therai. org. uk/at/debate). Anthropology Today 29.5         (2013): 9-12.

Sloan, David. “Domestic Microfinance and Its Barriers to Success: Policy Paradoxes in the United States.” International Journal of Academic Research 5.4 (2013): 514-519.

Zeballos, Eliana, Alessandra Cassar, and Bruce Wydick. “Do Risky Microfinance Borrowers Really Invest in Risky Projects? Experimental Evidence from Bolivia.” Journal of Development Studies 50.2 (2014): 276-287.