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Questions/Issues:
1) Given the development and ease of the American marketplace, it may be difficult
to imagine what .59$ a day means. What is the extent of poverty in Africa and
the LDCs?
The
poverty
line in America usually means that a family has housing with running water and
electricity and 1 TV. Many measures seek to ensure that households in poverty
in America still have access to a computer and washing machine. In many parts
of Africa, Bangladesh, and other countries, poverty means lack of access to clean
water, housing, transportation, electricity, education, health care, etc.
2) Banking relies on a principle of profit. Where is the profit in micro-lending?
How do they track it? Does illiteracy affect it?
3) Why are women the main beneficiaries of micro-lending? What does their
involvement suggest about the role of women in economic development?
4) Growing out of the last question, what cultural expectations surround
women and their role in the marketplace? Does micro-lending challenge
those expectations?
What are the cultural obstacles to micro-lending and economic growth?