The Alchemy of Microfinance: The Evolution of the Indonesian People`s Credit Banks (BPR) from 1895 to 1999 and a Contemporary Analysis

Whereas microfinance initiatives in most developing countries only started some two decades ago, Indonesia’s People’s Credit Banks (BPR) have an amazing history of more than 100 years. This book reviews their history from the first failed Dutch trials to replicate the Raiffeisen-Bank model, through times of financial repression as well as times of financial liberalization up to the recent financial crisis of 1997-99. The second part of the book analyses the present performance of the BPR.