Is microfinance an effective way to fight poverty?

Axis: very effective ... ineffective or harmful

John

date	change	position	video
2007-06-28	new	John argues microfinance breaks the no-collateral poverty cycle, beats loan sharks and gets high repayment: 'an awesome idea'.	June 28: How to Be a Microfinancier 00:02:36
2007-07-02	refine	John revises Thursday's claim that only the very rich can open microfinance banks: Nerdfighters together probably could have.	Brotherhood 2.0: July 2nd: The Law of Compound Nerdfighting 00:00:29
2009-10-12	new	John says microfinance works: loans to poor entrepreneurs via Kiva are repaid 99% of the time and bring people out of poverty.	Puppy Elephant Defends Capitalism 00:02:34
2011-09-27	restate	John says Kiva borrowers repay 98.5% of the time and that lending lets you facilitate sustainable economic growth in the developing world.	Awesome Bankers? 00:02:55
2012-03-13	restate	John says Kiva gives developing-world entrepreneurs access to the inexpensive credit and banking others take for granted, and hopes viewers discover 'the wonders of microfinance'.	Actually Free Money! (Really.) The Bank of Nerdfighteria's Quarterly Report 00:01:24
2012-12-11	restate	John says his more than 2,000 Kiva loans have all been repaid so far and helping $64,000 of businesses grow cost him only $7.	Economics and Dentistry: YOUTUBE'S FAVORITE TOPICS 00:02:37
2013-11-26	restate	John says Kiva borrowers repay 99% of the time, jokingly likening lending to a savings account at negative 1% interest, and you watch businesses grow.	The Bank of Nerdfighteria 00:02:56

date	change	position	video
2007-06-29	new	Hank calls microfinance a really powerful way for poor people to improve their own lives, and agrees it is like giving money you get back.	How to be a Microfinancier Part 2 00:01:55
2012-08-31	restate	Hank: it is proven economically that microfinance is a really great way to help the developing world.	Why The Rich Pay Lower Taxes 00:03:12
2013-01-16	restate	Hank says the Dominican Republic microfinance visit shaped how he envisions the world getting better, and microfinance seems to really work.	An Evening of Awesome at Carnegie Hall 01:55:52