Alexis Suskin-Sperry addresses questions from Brenda Bailey-Hughes concerning the success of microfinance activities in Africa. Suskin-Sperry is an undergraduate student in the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University and Bailey-Hughes is a Senior Lecturer also at the Kelley School of Business. Suskin-Sperry explains that microfinance is financing for the working poor who are not able to access capital due to a lack of collateral, transportation to banks, or an inability to afford an appropriately sized loan. She emphasizes that microfinance loans are not handouts but instead are interest earning loans which provide necessary capital to start a small business. Africa is a point of interest for microfinance because of the large population of working poor who are striving to improve their living situations. Suskin-Sperry argues that the benefits of microfinance ripple out from micro entrepreneurs and their communities to the larger regional economy in which they operate. Last, Suskin-Sperry urges the business community to view Africa as a viable business opportunity. *This video was recorded as a part of the Indiana University CIBER Focus Vodcast Series.
