Poverty Social Exclusion and Microfinance in Britain

Overview

In recent years, some of the most innovative economic responses to poverty have been developed in countries in the South, such as Bangladesh and Mexico. In favourable circumstances, ‘microfinance initiatives’ can enable poor people to build up security through savings and insurance, and obtain credit to cover times of hardship or to establish small businesses. What can be learned from these international experiences in Britain, where increasing numbers of poor people are being excluded from commercially provided financial services?