In South Asia, the modern microfinance movement was born in Bangladesh in the 1970s as a response to the prevailing … poverty conditions among its vast rural population. Astonishing growth rates in Bangladesh, particularly during 1990s, created … a new dimension for microfinance worldwide as microfinance institutions grew to include millions of clients. The start …

"Poverty and income inequality remain a stubborn challenge in Asia and the Pacific despite the region’s rapid economic … expansion in previous decades, which lifted millions out of poverty. Financial inclusion is often considered as a critical … between financial inclusion, poverty, and income inequality at the country level will help policymakers design and implement …