MICROFINANCE: HISTORICAL EVOLUTION of INSTITUTIONS and ITS IMPACT on DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

This paper examines, from a historical perspective, the evolution of microfinance (with a special reference to microcredit) throughout its history, focusing especially on the evolution of their institutions and their influence on the development of societies. As for the institutions and credit cooperatives, direct lending and informal models (coins keepers, informal banking, tontine, etc.) are analyzed. We discuss how to measure its impact on development, what are the positive and negative aspects of microfinance and what is the right method to get it.