The Planning Commission has released new poverty estimates for the country, showing that the percentage of people living below the poverty line poor fell from from 37% to 29.8% from 2004-2005 to 2009-2010. According to the Commission, the fall is … Read More
Why Index-Based Insurance Could Work
A post by NYU researcher Jonathan Bauchet on the CGAP Microfinance Blog discusses some of the reasons behind the low takeup of microinsurance products. Bauchet mentions results from CMF’s randomized controlled trial study of an index-based weather insurance product in … Read More
The Great AP Microfinance Catharsis
This weekend was one of complete catharsis for me. The Indian microfinance sector, as is well known now, has gone through a roller coaster over the course of the last year and a half—one of emotion, accusations, and frustration. For … Read More
Are the RBI’s Financial Inclusion Policies too Conservative?
A recent article in The Economist discusses the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)’s record over the last ten to fifteen years. In general, the magazine takes a favourable view of the central bank’s performance, citing its success in maintaining macroeconomic … Read More
Who will Pay for Financial Literacy?
As we meander through the thatched mud-stained and brick houses in Uttar Pradesh, our team asks a curious group of smiling clients – “What did you learn at the training session?” or “Does it help when our team reminds you … Read More
A Letter From an MFI Client
Dear regulators, policymakers and other stakeholders: I am a MFI client from an urban slum, and yes I have taken loans from 2-3 MFIs operating in my area. I do have a bank account, however, every time I have tried … Read More