ECO 372 THE ECONOMICS OF MICROFINANCE
Over the past two decades, microcredit, and microfinance in general, has been hailed by the development community for its ability to lift millions out of the grip of extreme poverty. More recently, many (including academic economists) have begun to question whether the microfinance lives up to its hype. This course will address (1) whether there is scientific evidence that these programs accomplish what policy-makers intend and (2) if the evidence suggests better ways to design these programs. The course will address the economic challenges facing families in poverty and the role that access to credit, savings, and insurance plays in their daily lives. Prerequisite: ECO 111