Social capital in microfinance: Case studies in the Philippines

The present study examines how formation of social capital in themicrofinance sector is affected by enlarging the political or economicresources of the informal groups of poor households and microfinanceinstitutions (MFIs) that contribute to social cohesion. In particular, thischapter attempts to show how the regulatory and supervisory framework as wellas the financial innovations of microfinance institutions have affected poorhouseholds capacity for cooperation and mutual support in their fightagainst poverty.