This paper examines the contract design problem of microfinance institutions seeking to maximize outreach to the poor while remaining financially sustainable. A dynamic model of group lending is developed that shows how optimal interest rates depend on information regarding moral hazard and...

This paper provides an overview of the microfinance industry in developing countries. It highlights the early development of the concept of microfinance and identifies some of the key issues and debates concerning its performance in terms of outreach, sustainability, and impact. Studies are...