These are bold claims, yet the work of many of you in this room have strengthened these convictions through your academic work in collecting and analysing evidence, some of which we will have the opportunity to discuss in this conference.
(e.g., from Professor Beck’s early work in looking at financial intermediation and growth (2000) and more recent ones on finance, inequality and the poor (2007) to Dr. Hannig’s discussion on financial inclusion and financial stability (2010) and Professor Karlan’s numerous work on looking at impact of credit (2007) or other financial services in households.)