PEOPLE-CENTERED CREDIT SYSTEMS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: THE NEED FOR REGIONAL NETWORKS Hari Srinivas Abstracted from: Colloqui - Cornell Journal of Planning and Urban Issues. 10th Anniversary, Spring 1995. colloqui- mailbox@cornell.edu Abstract This paper essentially argues for the need to establish regional networks of credit systems that are aimed at enhancing the quality and quantity of credit available for urban low-income groups in developing countries. Availability and access to credit by low-income families have long been recognized as a major prerequisite for development. Besides the considerable externalities that credit generates through, for example, income-earning activities of the poor, it also helps in the improvement of their living conditions, particularly housing and infrastructure provision. Problems associated with access to loans from banks and other formal institutions, and the low-income/asset-holding position of the poor themselves are two factors that require a drastic revamping of the existing systems of credit delivery. Any such move also ought to take advantage of the vast networks of credit delivery that the poor themselves have established using their own resources. Under such circumstances, a case for regional level networks is made - the network would link community credit groups with government agencies, NGOs and Banks so that shortcomings of the various actors can be overcome and resources shared. Contents Introduction Urban Poverty in Developing Countries People-Centeredness of Credit Regional Credit Networks for Credit Mobilization Regional Networks: Beyond Credit References Return to the Documents Section Hari Srinivas - hsrinivas@gdrc.org Return to the Virtual Library on Microcredit