The Impact of Microfinance on Society: The State-of-the-Art

Virgilio G.P.M.; Dávila Rivera J.M.; Reátegui Díaz Í.; Espinoza P.P. · Forum for Social Economics (2025) · DOI: 10.1080/07360932.2025.2472217

Resumen

This study provides a comprehensive view of the literature on the achievements of microfinance. It highlights two contrasting perspectives: one recognizes microfinance’s role in alleviating poverty, while the other argues that poverty continues to grow worldwide despite efforts to promote self-entrepreneurship. Drawing from over 120 academic sources selected for relevance, balance, scope, timeframe, and quality, the paper also investigates the impact of business skills on micro-entrepreneurial success and the need of many micro-entrepreneurs to improve in this area. Additionally, it examines the widely publicized claim that microcredit empowers women, a critical issue in many of the world’s poorest countries. Despite women having better repayment rates than men, microfinance institutions often overlook key factors necessary to meet the objectives of credit cooperatives and microfinance institutions.

Instituciones: Universidad Católica Sedes Sapientiae; Universidad Nacional del Centro del Perú