By David Ning
You may or may not have heard of micro-lending, the hottest new trend in global finance, but it is changing the way people borrow, lend and donate. Boiled down, micro-loans are small loans, generally from $100 to $1500, made to the working poor or other needy individuals who are unable to borrow money through traditional routes. Micro-lending first became an avenue for investors by helping impoverished individuals in third world countries—particularly women in rural areas—to borrow money for business, agricultural and educational ventures. The idea has spread so that you can now help individuals both far away and next door see their dreams become a reality. While some micro-lending will earn you a return on your investment, others are simply loans that will be repaid at dollar... More...
