This timely "Handbook" offers a unique opportunity to consider the performance and national context of microcredit initiatives within the European Union. Drawing together authors from multi-disciplinary background and including complementary perspectives and interpretative analysis, this unique "Handbook" examines which strategies and policies may affect how a particular country initiative fosters entrepreneurial behaviour. It is the first book of its kind to analyse the state of European microcredit and how the continent is adopting and adapting this developing world model for economic development. This book will be an influential tool helping government and policymakers to target a new set of microcredit initiatives and programmes. It will also be an invaluable read for students and academics in economics, business, development issues and political science.
Contents: Introduction Barbara Jayo, Maricruz Lacalle, Sylvia Rico, Karl Dayson and Jill Kickul 1. Microcredit Sector in United Kingdom: The Role of CDFIs Niamh Goggin, Karl Dayson and Sarah McGeehan 2. Microcredit in France: Financial Support for Social Inclusion Stefanie Lammermann 3. Microcredit Sector in Italy: Small Initiatives in a Dynamic Scenario Simone di Castri 4. The Microcredit Sector in Bulgaria Kostadin Munev 5. Denmark Tuija Wallgren 6. Microcredit in Portugal Manuel Brandao Alves 7. Microcredit in ustria Susanne Zurl-Meyer and Horst Maunz 8. Status of Microlending in Germany: An Empirical Survey of Programmes in 2006 Jan Evers and Stefanie Lahn 9. The Microlending Sector in Hungary: Microlending to SMEs Istvan Kovacs 10. Microcredit in Slovakia Allan Bussard 11. Microcredit in Luxembourg Veronique Faber 12. Microcredit in Norway Elisabet Ljunggren and Trude Emaus Holm 13. Microcredit in Belgium Annika Cayrol and Jean Marchand 14. Microcredit in Spain: The Role of Saving Banks Silvia Rico Garrido, Maricruz Lacalle Calderon and Barbara Jayo Carboni 15. Microfinance in Switzerland Carmen Drexler 16. Microcredit in Romania Maria Doiciu and Diana Bialus 17. State of Microfinance in Poland Agata Szostek 18. Microfinance in the Netherlands Margot Lobbezoo Conclusion Karl Dayson Index