In today’s global society, microfinance affords lower income individuals the opportunity to improve their economic situation through a democratic, market-based process. Advanced Technologies for Microfinance: Solutions and Challenges is the first book to systematically address technology’s impact on microfinance. It discusses a wide variety of technology applications that will define the next generation of the microfinance movement and it addresses the tough questions surrounding technology in microfinance. For instance, what are the disadvantages of technology-enabled microfinance and what will it mean for the inclusiveness and empowerment of the service? This dynamic collection is a must-have for anyone interested in microfinance, whether you are a donor, lender, or investor.
Arvind Ashta, PhD, holds the Microfinance Chair of the Burgundy School of Business (Groupe ESC Dijon-Bourgogne), France. He is a professor of finance, control and law and is member of its research center CEREN. He offers courses in Microfinance and this is currently his main field of research (regulatory aspects of Microfinance and advanced technology in Microfinance). He has taught Microfinance as visiting faculty in Chicago (US), Pforzheim (Germany) and Brussels (Belgium). He holds a B.A. (Hons) in Economics from St. Stephen's College, Delhi University, a PGDM from IIM Calcutta and a Doctorat in Law from the University of Paris 2 (Panthéon-Assas). He worked 17 years in Corporate Enterprises in India and France in the fields on Management Control and Accounting before entering academics. He has a number of publications in International journals in behavioural finance, corporate social responsibility and in microfinance, notably in the Journal of Economic Issues.