Building inclusive financial systems : a framework for financial access / Michael S. Barr, Anjali Kumar, Robert E. Litan, editors.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Barr, Michael S.

Kumar, Anjali, 1956-

Litan, Robert E., 1950-

World Bank.

International Monetary Fund.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Finance--Developing countries--Congresses.

Finance.

Financial services industry.

Credit.

Microfinance.

Financial institutions.

Developing countries.

Financial institutions--Developing countries--Congresses.

Microfinance--Developing countries--Congresses.

Credit--Developing countries--Congresses.

Financial services industry--Developing countries--Congresses.

Genre:

Conference papers and proceedings.

Physical Description:

vii, 198 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : Brookings Institution Press, [2007]

Summary:

Broad-based and inclusive financial systems can significantly aid financial development, reduce poverty, and expand economic opportunity in developing countries. Poor households and individuals often have difficulty obtaining financial services for a multitude of reasons, including transaction costs, perceived risks, inadequate legal and financial infrastructure, and information barriers. Yet many financial institutions have begun making profitable inroads into these underserved markets through the continuing expansion of financial access and microfinance.

The authors in this volume take stock of what has been accomplished so far and address the challenges that remain in making financial systems more inclusive. They examine methods for measuring financial access, the link between access and poverty reduction, the question of private profitability and social returns, the role of commercial banks in improving financial access, the need for innovative financial and technological infrastructure, and the ways government policies can expand access. Building Inclusive Financial Systems offers an indispensable guide for governments and the private sector to increase access effectively and responsibly.

Contents:

Introduction / Michael S. Barr, Anjali Kumar, and Robert E. Litan

Measuring financial access / Anjali Kumar ... [et al.]

Why does access matter? Impact on growth and poverty / Xavier Gine

Microfinance institutions and financial access: the double bottom line / Stephen Peachey

Commercial banks and financial access / Ajai Nair and J.D. von Pischke

Financial infrastructure and financial access / David Porteous

Government policies to expand financial access / Michael S. Barr

Conclusion / Michael S. Barr, Anjali Kumar, and Robert E. Litan.

Notes:

"This book is based on the seventh annual financial markets and development conference held May 30-31, 2006, in Washington, D.C. The conference was cosponsored by the World Bank Group and Brookings Institution."

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0815708394

9780815708391

OCLC:

156784829