The Impact of Microfinance on Individuals’ Empowerment: A Systematic Literature Review

Objective: This study aims to conduct a systematic literature review (SLR) to identify the main factors of individuals’ empowerment from the perspective of microfinance. Methodology/approach: To achieve the proposed objective, an SLR was conducted using the SCOPUS database from 1950 to 2021. From a set of 690 papers, only 43 related to empowerment factors were considered and analyzed to segment the factors and their respective sub-factors according to their nature. Findings: This SLR documents that microfinance is a tool for the economic, psychological, political, and social empowerment of people with business ideas, but without access to the traditional financial system. Also found are financial and non-financial/social factors of empowerment that must operate systematically to produce the desired effects. Practical implications: The results of this research can help microfinance institutions (MFIs) and policy makers to determine the best strategy for individuals’ economic, psychological, political and social empowerment through the microfinance lens. Originality/value: It identifies a set of empowerment factors for needy individuals with entrepreneurial ideas who, through microfinance, can find a mechanism to exit poverty.