Why Micro & Consumer Finance MicroMasters?

In recent years, financial inclusion in emerging markets has been a focal point of attention. Big focus on the importance of delivering efficient microfinance products to the mass majority of the under-privileged and low-income populations. The course helps you in understanding the major issues in microfinance practices. Given the sizeable number of people engaged in SMEs in the world who lack access to financial services, a thorough understanding of the sustainability and growth is needed.

This course will identify, explain and discuss the role of microfinance institutions in socio-economic development, review how these institutions are regulated and unravel some of the myths that have hindered their operations for many decades with a view of unveiling their potential for growth and development.

Consumer financial markets are booming with innovations and fintech startups from Bitcoin and new payments technologies, to peer-to-peer lending like Lending Club, to financial advising startups like Betterment, to innovative products to solve the problems of the aging population of the developed world, to insurance and financial products to facilitate growth in developing markets.

We will cover consumer financial products related to credit, investment, and transactions. We start with how people make financial decisions, including both rational and behavioral models, and then turn to how financial products and markets are designed to serve the needs of consumers and/or to make profits. The course also touches on the funding of lending to households and the design and risks of financial products backed by mortgages, credit cards, or student loans, as well as the rapidly-evolving institutions and regulatory structure affecting the financial industry serving households.