tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972618801092133317.post4448381207417237476..comments2012-12-02T16:47:47.151-05:00Comments on prone to wander: Thoughts on CambodiaUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972618801092133317.post-85774498543590663562007-12-03T20:19:00.000-05:002007-12-03T20:19:00.000-05:00I read "Microfinance Misses its Mark" - a well-wr...I read "Microfinance Misses its Mark" - a well-written critical look at this attempt to do the right thing. However, in the very first line the author refers to microcredit as a "silver bullet". I doubt Dr Yunis, Nobel Prizer winner for implementing a microcredit program thinks of it as a silver bullet. Solutions to difficult problems seldom have a single solution. One flaw of being simply a "do-gooder" is the desire to find a simple or a single solution to a complex human problem. Sometimes you get really lucky and you find such solutions - but not very often. <BR/><BR/>It appears that microcredit is another potential tool in the toolbox - but not a silver bullet. Its way too early to dismiss it - the more it gets applied as a possible solution the larger the data set to evaluate its effectiveness over time - and it doesn't seem to have been in use for a long enough time yet. The folks who really are in this for the duration - such as Dr Yunis and hopefully those in development organizations such as WR - will be the ones who will be able to judge microcredit effectiveness in the long run.Steve Ruberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06870733607174277199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972618801092133317.post-25728811680223791022007-12-02T22:30:00.000-05:002007-12-02T22:30:00.000-05:00Yo Adam :)Thanks for your comment! You're right; m...Yo Adam :)<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your comment! You're right; microfinance is definitely a 'cool' thing at the moment and may or may not be just a band-aid effort. There isn't a whole lot of research on its effectiveness, especially long-term because it's such a new thing. <BR/><BR/>I have a couple of articles/thoughts for you. The first is called, "<A HREF="http://www.ssireview.org/articles/entry/microfinance_misses_its_mark/" REL="nofollow">Microfinance Misses its Mark</A>" from the Stanford Social Innovation Review. The author, Aneel Karnani, argues that macro-level investments - in jobs, government policy, and improving national economies - are better suited for eradicating poverty than microfinance. I'm sure you'll agree with many of his points.<BR/><BR/>The second is a <A HREF="http://lynnaeetta.blogspot.com/2007/06/in-defense-of-microfinance.html" REL="nofollow">response from Peter Greer</A>, President of Hope International. He responds to several of Karnani's claims, most notably arguing that microfinance is helpful in <I> alleviating </I> poverty, not necessarily wiping it out. He also argues that a "both/and" perspective is needed; microfinance alone is not sufficient, but it is a necessary (or at least very helpful) piece of the puzzle.<BR/><BR/>The two articles together make for a lot of reading, but probably not as much reading as <I>Pathologies of Power</I>, so we're even if we both take the other's recommendation. :)<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your comments! Does anyone else have anything to add?<BR/><BR/>Peace,<BR/>LynnaeLynnaeEttahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05611252678832380828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972618801092133317.post-36077518268083499502007-12-02T17:52:00.000-05:002007-12-02T17:52:00.000-05:00Yo LynnaeThis is semi-related to your post but I'v...Yo Lynnae<BR/><BR/>This is semi-related to your post but I've been thinking about microfinance lately and although I think it's a good thing...I worry if it's another sort of band-aid. I mean maybe band-aids are all we have sometimes, but I don't feel like microfinance is solving things. I feel like it might move people out of abject (don't think I spelled that right) or terrible poverty to impoverishment you know lesser poverty.<BR/><BR/>I mean I guess it's a good first step but it worries me how microfinance is such a cool thing now. It worries me because this does not challenge the systems of inequality within and outside of the country that made things the way they are. How to approach those things and how to even define them...is tough...but I think it's important to look at that as well. A cool book for you to read is by Paul Farmer called Pathologies of Power.<BR/><BR/>Sorry long commentAdamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10546645768348143927noreply@blogger.com