ABSTRACT. The promise of microfinance is a double bottom line proposition: those microfinance institutions (MFI) that follow the principles of good banking will also be those that alleviate the most poverty. Yet, it is unclear that this promise holds up. We see many stories about microfinance success, but don’t see much in the way of macroeconomic change due to microfinance despite microfinance’s growth. This special issue recognizes both the problems and promise of microfinance while dealing with the apparent disconnect in an empirical manner. pp. 1–7

Keywords: Poverty, Credit, Microenterprise, Microfinance