Development efforts over the past few decades have not been as effective as promised. Global poverty remains intractable: more than 4 billion people live on less than the equivalent of $5 (£3.80) a day, and the number of people going hungry has been rising. Important gains have been made in some areas, but many of
Beginning in the 1980s, microfinance emerged as a way to tackle the myriad challenges of poverty by focusing on financial inclusion. It was recognized that lack of access to basic financial services, such as a small loan, was preventing billions of people from raising their standard of living. As of 2017, 1.7 billion adults globally remain
As global poverty continues to decline, another issue emerges. According to the World Economic Forum, rising income inequality and the polarization of societies pose a risk to the global economy, and may lead to increased polarization and lack of political stability. This, however, is not a global problem. In developing countries, inequality is