The financial vs. the social approach of microfinance. A comparative global analysis

Abstract

The supply of microcredit by microfinance institutions distinguishes two approaches, one called "poverty alleviation" and other "financial self-sustainability". In this study it is developed a global comparative in four regions of developing countries in order to recognize the approach to which the population get microcredits, an also to check if there is any trade off between both approaches. We’ve used ten financial and social indicators organized into two categories: financial sustainability and poverty’s scope. The results show that in Latin America and the Caribbean and Middle East/North Africa is presented with more visibility the financial approach while in Africa the social approach prevails, and in the case of South Asia it is found that there is a balance between the two approaches. In addition it was discovered that the expansion of women’s access to microcredit favors to the reduction of poverty.