Innovative Experiences in Access to Finance: Market-friendly Roles for the Visible Hand?

Growing evidence suggests that lack of access to credit prevents lower-income households and small firms from financing high return investment projects, with adverse effects on growth and poverty alleviation. What can governments do to help without impairing market functioning? This book describes and analyzes recent, innovative experiences with government interventions aimed at broadening the access to credit for underserved households and firms.