The current moment faced by the microfinance field reflects the opening lines from Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness...." Never before has there been such inspiring innovation in microfinance nor such cause for concern. New Pathways Out of Poverty provides a substantive discussion of the state of the field and a compelling vision for its future.

Third in a book series spanning a decade that has documented the microfinance industry's highs and lows, New Pathways Out of Poverty explores the current state of the microfinance industry and highlights some of the field's major challenges and achievements. Contributors examine innovations in microfinance and capture the knowledge gained in key areas of practice. The authors also show how leading institutions are taking steps to ensure that microfinance becomes a central platform for putting poverty in the museums where it belongs.