This article considers the policy and regulatory environment for microfinance in Asia. It identifies eleven criteria for 'good practice' in policy and regulation, covering the policies of governments and donor agencies to support microfinance; the regulation of non-bank microfinance institutions;...

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) has recently recognized the phenomenon of “financial exclusion” in its member economies, in consequence of a realization of the need to deal with the “losers” in the globalization process. With leadership from Mexico in 2002, APEC considered...