The microfinance industry has crossed the threshold into a period of tremendous growth. This growth was significantly accelerated by media attention to the industry during the United Nations
Year of Microcredit in 2005 and the awarding of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize to Grameen Bank founder Mohammed Yunus as well as the interest of high-profile donors and investors, including eBay
founder Pierre Omidyar and Microsoft founder Bill Gates. Despite the promise for international development, despite the proven track record of exceptional loan repayment rates, and despite the
development of competitive markets in countries such as Bolivia, Peru and Bangladesh or the global expansion of microfinance access to tens of millions of new clients, little research has
explored the impact this expansion has had on global poverty and economic and social development in general.
To address this gap, this volume brings together leaders in the microfinance industry and researchers representing a range of academic disciplines, many of whom have contributed to Lehigh
University Martindale Center’s Microfinance Program. Our goal is to outline a multidisciplinary research agenda for the field. The topics addressed in this volume and the questions posed can
serve to guide social scientists, technology experts, development specialists, investors, microfinance practitioners, policymakers and students.
