ABSTRACT
Finance is regarded as a major constraint on development in most regions of the Third World. There is often insufficient money available to finance worthwhile projects and the price of loanable funds is usually high, reflecting the shortage of savings. In low-income economies it is not surprising that savings rates are low, because most disposable income has to be used to purchase the necessities for everyday living, and many families simply cannot afford to make financial provision for the future, even though this leaves them insecure and vulnerable.1
