{"product_id":"poverty-capital-book-critical-study-of-microfinance-and-power","title":"Poverty Capital book - Critical study of microfinance and power","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this review of Poverty Capital the reviewer finds a rigorous, idea-driven book for readers who want to understand how powerful institutions shape poverty policy and markets. Ananya Roy does not study the poor in isolation; instead the book traces how institutions manage both capital and authoritative knowledge, making it essential reading for students, policy practitioners, and scholars interested in the politics of development. The bottom line: this is a scholarly, evidence-rich work that challenges dominant paradigms and explains why microfinance debates matter.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInstitutional focus:\u003c\/strong\u003e Examines how powerful institutions control circuits of profit and investment, offering readers a clear lens on who benefits from development initiatives.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eKnowledge and truth:\u003c\/strong\u003e Explores how authoritative knowledge about poverty is produced and sustained, helping readers discern the politics behind research and policy.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMicrofinance case study:\u003c\/strong\u003e Uses microfinance as a central example to illuminate broader debates about markets and pro-poor institutions, making abstract arguments tangible.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGlobal research context:\u003c\/strong\u003e Draws on many years of research in Washington D.C., Bangladesh, and the Middle East, providing comparative depth and empirical grounding.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTeaching pedigree:\u003c\/strong\u003e Evolved from the author's undergraduate teaching, which gives the prose a clear pedagogical orientation useful for classroom use.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePoverty Capital is best for graduate students and scholars in development studies, economics, urban planning, and public policy who want a critical, institutionally grounded account of poverty governance. It also serves practitioners and NGO staff who need to situate microfinance and similar interventions within larger political and financial frameworks.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eReaders seeking a how-to guide for running microfinance programs or a lightweight popular account of poverty should look elsewhere; this book is analytic and argumentative rather than a manual or a brief primer for casual readers.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003ePros \u0026amp; Cons\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStrong institutional analysis that clarifies the relationship between capital flows and poverty governance.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEmpirically grounded with comparative research from multiple regions, lending credibility to its claims.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClear engagement with debates about markets and pro-poor institutions, useful for classroom discussion.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003eThe dense, scholarly tone may be challenging for readers expecting a popular overview or practical guidance.\u003c\/li\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTitle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePoverty Capital\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAuthor\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAnanya Roy\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAward\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWinner of the 2011 Paul Davidoff award\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMain topics\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMicrofinance, institutions, development policy\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eResearch settings\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWashington D.C., Bangladesh, the Middle East\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAudience\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStudents, scholars, development practitioners\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePoverty Capital is a strong, evidence-based critique of how institutions shape poverty knowledge and capital flows; it is well worth buying for students and professionals who need a nuanced, comparative account of microfinance and development politics. Its scholarly depth makes it good value for course adoption and for readers who want to move beyond surface-level accounts.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes this book focus on microfinance?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes. Microfinance is a central case study used to examine broader debates about markets and pro-poor institutions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this accessible for non-academic readers?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe book is analytic and rigorous; practitioners with a policy background will benefit, but casual readers may find the tone dense.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere was the research conducted?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe author draws on many years of research in Washington D.C., Bangladesh, and the Middle East.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ananya Roy","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48779062673627,"sku":"0415876729","price":210.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1043\/1707\/files\/41osjngWx6L._SL1225.jpg?v=1778939607","url":"https:\/\/gearmusthave.com\/products\/poverty-capital-book-critical-study-of-microfinance-and-power","provider":"GearMustHave","version":"1.0","type":"link"}