Microfinance has become a critical tool in credit markets for poverty reduction and socioeconomic development. Yet its impact is still questioned and varies from one country to another and from urban to rural areas. This article examines the role of Egyptian microfinance on household income. A cross-sectional survey interviewed 780 established and new clients in Greater Cairo and rural areas in Egypt. The stratified random method was used to collect the data from urban and rural districts. The findings, using multinomial logistics, reveal that microfinance had a positive impact on the household income of women borrowers who spent three years in the scheme as compared to new borrowers.

Agnes, Y. (2016) ‘Engendering microfinance services: beyond access’, presented at the Women’s Empowerment or Feminisation of Debt? Workshop, London, March.

Al-mamun, A., Mohammad, N., Huda, M. and Malarvizhi, C.A. (2014) ‘Measuring the effect of amanah ikhtiar Malaysia’s microcredit programme on economic vulnerability among hardcore poor households’, Progress in Development Studies 1: 49–59.

Al-Shami, S., Samer, A., Izaidin, B.M., Nurulizwa, A. and Mohd, S.R.B. (2014) ‘Conceptual framework: the role of microfinance on the wellbeing of poor people case studies from Malaysia and Yemen’, Asian Social Science 10(1): 230–42.

Anderson, L., Locker, L. and Nugent, R. (2002) ‘Microcredit, social capital, and common pool resources’, World Development 30(1): 95–105.

Angelucci, M., Dean S.K. and Jonathan, Z. (2013) ‘Win some lose some? Evidence from a randomized microcredit program placement experiment by compartamos banco’, working paper No. 7439, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA).

Armendáriz de Aghion, B. and Morduch, J. (2000) ‘Microfinance beyond group lending’, Economics of Transition 8(2): 401–20.

Armendariz De Aghion, B and Morduch, J. (2013). Understanding the impact of a microfinance-based intervention. American Journal of Public Health 3(4): 344–349.

Drolet, J. (2015) ‘Women, microcredit and empowerment in Cairo, Egypt’, International Social Work 5: 23–35.

Druschel, K. (2016) ‘State of the microcredit summit campaign report’, working paper, Washington, DC: Microcredit Summit Campaign Secretariat.

Ghaliba, A.K., Issam, M. and Katsushi, S.I. (2015) ‘Microfinance and household poverty reduction: empirical evidence from rural Pakistan’, Oxford Development Studies 23(2): 84–104.

Hashemi, S.M., Schuler, S.R. and Riley, A. (1996) ‘Rural credit programs and women’s empowerment in Bangladesh’, World Development 24(4): 635–53.

Hiatt, S.R. and Woodworth, P.W. (2006) ‘Alleviating poverty through microfinance: village banking outcomes in Central America’, The Social Science Journal 43(3): 471–77.

Imai, K.S., Raghav, G., Ganesh, T. and Samuel, K.A. (2012) ‘Microfinance and poverty – a macro perspective’, World Development 40(8): 1675–89.

Kabeer, N. (1999) ‘Resources, agency, achievements: reflections on the measurement of women’s empowerment’, Development and Change 30(3): 435–64.

Karlan, D. (2007) ‘Cross sectional impact analysis: bias from dropouts’, Microfinance Journal 3(2): 343–66.

Karlan (2012). Teaching entrepreneurship: Impact of business training on microfinance institutions and clients. The Review of Economics and Statistics. MIT Press 93(2): 510–527.

Kondo, T., Aniceto, O.J., Clarence, D. and Christine, I. (2008) ‘Impact of microfinance on rural households in the Philippines’, IDS Bulletin 39(1): 51–70.

Morris, G. and Barnes, C. (2005) ‘An assessment of the impact of microfinance’, Journal of Microfinance 7(1): 39–54.

Mosley, P. (1998) ‘The use of control groups in impact assessments for microfinance’, working paper no. 19, Geneva: International Labour Organization.

Nader, Y. (2008) ‘Microcredit and the socio-economic wellbeing of women and their families in Cairo’, The Journal of Socio-Economics 37(2): 644–656.

Navajas, S., Schreiner, M., Meyer, R.L., Gonzalez-vega, C. and Rodriguez-meza, J. (2000) ‘Microcredit and the poorest of the poor: theory and evidence from Bolivia’, World Development 28(2): 333–46.

Oxaal, Z. and Baden, S. (1997) ‘Gender and empowerment: definitions, approaches and implications for policy’, report no. 40, BRIDGE (development – gender), Brighton: Institute of Development Studies.

Rahman, A. (1999) ‘Micro-credit initiatives for equitable and sustainable development: who pays?’, World Development 27(1): 67–82.

Razavi, S. (1997) ‘From rags to riches: looking at poverty from a gender perspective’, IDS Bulletin 28(3): 49–62.

Robinson, M. (2001) The Microfinance Revolution Sustainable Finance for the Poor, Washington, DC: World Bank.

van Rooyen, C., Stewart, R. and de Wet, T.D. (2012) ‘The impact of microfinance in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review of the evidence’, World Development, 40: 2249–62.

Salib, S., (2014) ‘FORA’s impact among migrants: primary findings’, Opportunity International Network, 3: 56–82.

Swain, R.B. and Adel, V. (2009) ‘Does self help group participation lead to asset creation?’, World Development, 37: 1674–82.

Agnes, Y. (2016) ‘Engendering microfinance services: beyond access’, presented at the Women’s Empowerment or Feminisation of Debt? Workshop, London, March.

Al-mamun, A., Mohammad, N., Huda, M. and Malarvizhi, C.A. (2014) ‘Measuring the effect of amanah ikhtiar Malaysia’s microcredit programme on economic vulnerability among hardcore poor households’, Progress in Development Studies 1: 49–59.

Al-Shami, S., Samer, A., Izaidin, B.M., Nurulizwa, A. and Mohd, S.R.B. (2014) ‘Conceptual framework: the role of microfinance on the wellbeing of poor people case studies from Malaysia and Yemen’, Asian Social Science 10(1): 230–42.

Anderson, L., Locker, L. and Nugent, R. (2002) ‘Microcredit, social capital, and common pool resources’, World Development 30(1): 95–105.

Angelucci, M., Dean S.K. and Jonathan, Z. (2013) ‘Win some lose some? Evidence from a randomized microcredit program placement experiment by compartamos banco’, working paper No. 7439, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA).

Armendáriz de Aghion, B. and Morduch, J. (2000) ‘Microfinance beyond group lending’, Economics of Transition 8(2): 401–20.

Armendariz De Aghion, B and Morduch, J. (2013). Understanding the impact of a microfinance-based intervention. American Journal of Public Health 3(4): 344–349.

Drolet, J. (2015) ‘Women, microcredit and empowerment in Cairo, Egypt’, International Social Work 5: 23–35.

Druschel, K. (2016) ‘State of the microcredit summit campaign report’, working paper, Washington, DC: Microcredit Summit Campaign Secretariat.

Ghaliba, A.K., Issam, M. and Katsushi, S.I. (2015) ‘Microfinance and household poverty reduction: empirical evidence from rural Pakistan’, Oxford Development Studies 23(2): 84–104.

Hashemi, S.M., Schuler, S.R. and Riley, A. (1996) ‘Rural credit programs and women’s empowerment in Bangladesh’, World Development 24(4): 635–53.

Hiatt, S.R. and Woodworth, P.W. (2006) ‘Alleviating poverty through microfinance: village banking outcomes in Central America’, The Social Science Journal 43(3): 471–77.

Imai, K.S., Raghav, G., Ganesh, T. and Samuel, K.A. (2012) ‘Microfinance and poverty – a macro perspective’, World Development 40(8): 1675–89.

Kabeer, N. (1999) ‘Resources, agency, achievements: reflections on the measurement of women’s empowerment’, Development and Change 30(3): 435–64.

Karlan, D. (2007) ‘Cross sectional impact analysis: bias from dropouts’, Microfinance Journal 3(2): 343–66.

Karlan (2012). Teaching entrepreneurship: Impact of business training on microfinance institutions and clients. The Review of Economics and Statistics. MIT Press 93(2): 510–527.

Kondo, T., Aniceto, O.J., Clarence, D. and Christine, I. (2008) ‘Impact of microfinance on rural households in the Philippines’, IDS Bulletin 39(1): 51–70.

Morris, G. and Barnes, C. (2005) ‘An assessment of the impact of microfinance’, Journal of Microfinance 7(1): 39–54.

Mosley, P. (1998) ‘The use of control groups in impact assessments for microfinance’, working paper no. 19, Geneva: International Labour Organization.

Nader, Y. (2008) ‘Microcredit and the socio-economic wellbeing of women and their families in Cairo’, The Journal of Socio-Economics 37(2): 644–656.

Navajas, S., Schreiner, M., Meyer, R.L., Gonzalez-vega, C. and Rodriguez-meza, J. (2000) ‘Microcredit and the poorest of the poor: theory and evidence from Bolivia’, World Development 28(2): 333–46.

Oxaal, Z. and Baden, S. (1997) ‘Gender and empowerment: definitions, approaches and implications for policy’, report no. 40, BRIDGE (development – gender), Brighton: Institute of Development Studies.

Rahman, A. (1999) ‘Micro-credit initiatives for equitable and sustainable development: who pays?’, World Development 27(1): 67–82.

Razavi, S. (1997) ‘From rags to riches: looking at poverty from a gender perspective’, IDS Bulletin 28(3): 49–62.

Robinson, M. (2001) The Microfinance Revolution Sustainable Finance for the Poor, Washington, DC: World Bank.

van Rooyen, C., Stewart, R. and de Wet, T.D. (2012) ‘The impact of microfinance in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review of the evidence’, World Development, 40: 2249–62.

Salib, S., (2014) ‘FORA’s impact among migrants: primary findings’, Opportunity International Network, 3: 56–82.

Swain, R.B. and Adel, V. (2009) ‘Does self help group participation lead to asset creation?’, World Development, 37: 1674–82.

Agnes, Y. (2016) ‘Engendering microfinance services: beyond access’, presented at the Women’s Empowerment or Feminisation of Debt? Workshop, London, March.

Al-mamun, A., Mohammad, N., Huda, M. and Malarvizhi, C.A. (2014) ‘Measuring the effect of amanah ikhtiar Malaysia’s microcredit programme on economic vulnerability among hardcore poor households’, Progress in Development Studies 1: 49–59.

Al-Shami, S., Samer, A., Izaidin, B.M., Nurulizwa, A. and Mohd, S.R.B. (2014) ‘Conceptual framework: the role of microfinance on the wellbeing of poor people case studies from Malaysia and Yemen’, Asian Social Science 10(1): 230–42.

Anderson, L., Locker, L. and Nugent, R. (2002) ‘Microcredit, social capital, and common pool resources’, World Development 30(1): 95–105.

Angelucci, M., Dean S.K. and Jonathan, Z. (2013) ‘Win some lose some? Evidence from a randomized microcredit program placement experiment by compartamos banco’, working paper No. 7439, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA).

Armendáriz de Aghion, B. and Morduch, J. (2000) ‘Microfinance beyond group lending’, Economics of Transition 8(2): 401–20.

Armendariz De Aghion, B and Morduch, J. (2013). Understanding the impact of a microfinance-based intervention. American Journal of Public Health 3(4): 344–349.

Drolet, J. (2015) ‘Women, microcredit and empowerment in Cairo, Egypt’, International Social Work 5: 23–35.

Druschel, K. (2016) ‘State of the microcredit summit campaign report’, working paper, Washington, DC: Microcredit Summit Campaign Secretariat.

Ghaliba, A.K., Issam, M. and Katsushi, S.I. (2015) ‘Microfinance and household poverty reduction: empirical evidence from rural Pakistan’, Oxford Development Studies 23(2): 84–104.

Hashemi, S.M., Schuler, S.R. and Riley, A. (1996) ‘Rural credit programs and women’s empowerment in Bangladesh’, World Development 24(4): 635–53.

Hiatt, S.R. and Woodworth, P.W. (2006) ‘Alleviating poverty through microfinance: village banking outcomes in Central America’, The Social Science Journal 43(3): 471–77.

Imai, K.S., Raghav, G., Ganesh, T. and Samuel, K.A. (2012) ‘Microfinance and poverty – a macro perspective’, World Development 40(8): 1675–89.

Kabeer, N. (1999) ‘Resources, agency, achievements: reflections on the measurement of women’s empowerment’, Development and Change 30(3): 435–64.

Karlan, D. (2007) ‘Cross sectional impact analysis: bias from dropouts’, Microfinance Journal 3(2): 343–66.

Karlan (2012). Teaching entrepreneurship: Impact of business training on microfinance institutions and clients. The Review of Economics and Statistics. MIT Press 93(2): 510–527.

Kondo, T., Aniceto, O.J., Clarence, D. and Christine, I. (2008) ‘Impact of microfinance on rural households in the Philippines’, IDS Bulletin 39(1): 51–70.

Morris, G. and Barnes, C. (2005) ‘An assessment of the impact of microfinance’, Journal of Microfinance 7(1): 39–54.

Mosley, P. (1998) ‘The use of control groups in impact assessments for microfinance’, working paper no. 19, Geneva: International Labour Organization.

Nader, Y. (2008) ‘Microcredit and the socio-economic wellbeing of women and their families in Cairo’, The Journal of Socio-Economics 37(2): 644–656.

Navajas, S., Schreiner, M., Meyer, R.L., Gonzalez-vega, C. and Rodriguez-meza, J. (2000) ‘Microcredit and the poorest of the poor: theory and evidence from Bolivia’, World Development 28(2): 333–46.

Oxaal, Z. and Baden, S. (1997) ‘Gender and empowerment: definitions, approaches and implications for policy’, report no. 40, BRIDGE (development – gender), Brighton: Institute of Development Studies.

Rahman, A. (1999) ‘Micro-credit initiatives for equitable and sustainable development: who pays?’, World Development 27(1): 67–82.

Razavi, S. (1997) ‘From rags to riches: looking at poverty from a gender perspective’, IDS Bulletin 28(3): 49–62.

Robinson, M. (2001) The Microfinance Revolution Sustainable Finance for the Poor, Washington, DC: World Bank.

van Rooyen, C., Stewart, R. and de Wet, T.D. (2012) ‘The impact of microfinance in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review of the evidence’, World Development, 40: 2249–62.

Salib, S., (2014) ‘FORA’s impact among migrants: primary findings’, Opportunity International Network, 3: 56–82.

Swain, R.B. and Adel, V. (2009) ‘Does self help group participation lead to asset creation?’, World Development, 37: 1674–82.

Agnes, Y. (2016) ‘Engendering microfinance services: beyond access’, presented at the Women’s Empowerment or Feminisation of Debt? Workshop, London, March.

Al-mamun, A., Mohammad, N., Huda, M. and Malarvizhi, C.A. (2014) ‘Measuring the effect of amanah ikhtiar Malaysia’s microcredit programme on economic vulnerability among hardcore poor households’, Progress in Development Studies 1: 49–59.

Al-Shami, S., Samer, A., Izaidin, B.M., Nurulizwa, A. and Mohd, S.R.B. (2014) ‘Conceptual framework: the role of microfinance on the wellbeing of poor people case studies from Malaysia and Yemen’, Asian Social Science 10(1): 230–42.

Anderson, L., Locker, L. and Nugent, R. (2002) ‘Microcredit, social capital, and common pool resources’, World Development 30(1): 95–105.

Angelucci, M., Dean S.K. and Jonathan, Z. (2013) ‘Win some lose some? Evidence from a randomized microcredit program placement experiment by compartamos banco’, working paper No. 7439, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA).

Armendáriz de Aghion, B. and Morduch, J. (2000) ‘Microfinance beyond group lending’, Economics of Transition 8(2): 401–20.

Armendariz De Aghion, B and Morduch, J. (2013). Understanding the impact of a microfinance-based intervention. American Journal of Public Health 3(4): 344–349.

Drolet, J. (2015) ‘Women, microcredit and empowerment in Cairo, Egypt’, International Social Work 5: 23–35.

Druschel, K. (2016) ‘State of the microcredit summit campaign report’, working paper, Washington, DC: Microcredit Summit Campaign Secretariat.

Ghaliba, A.K., Issam, M. and Katsushi, S.I. (2015) ‘Microfinance and household poverty reduction: empirical evidence from rural Pakistan’, Oxford Development Studies 23(2): 84–104.

Hashemi, S.M., Schuler, S.R. and Riley, A. (1996) ‘Rural credit programs and women’s empowerment in Bangladesh’, World Development 24(4): 635–53.

Hiatt, S.R. and Woodworth, P.W. (2006) ‘Alleviating poverty through microfinance: village banking outcomes in Central America’, The Social Science Journal 43(3): 471–77.

Imai, K.S., Raghav, G., Ganesh, T. and Samuel, K.A. (2012) ‘Microfinance and poverty – a macro perspective’, World Development 40(8): 1675–89.

Kabeer, N. (1999) ‘Resources, agency, achievements: reflections on the measurement of women’s empowerment’, Development and Change 30(3): 435–64.

Karlan, D. (2007) ‘Cross sectional impact analysis: bias from dropouts’, Microfinance Journal 3(2): 343–66.

Karlan (2012). Teaching entrepreneurship: Impact of business training on microfinance institutions and clients. The Review of Economics and Statistics. MIT Press 93(2): 510–527.

Kondo, T., Aniceto, O.J., Clarence, D. and Christine, I. (2008) ‘Impact of microfinance on rural households in the Philippines’, IDS Bulletin 39(1): 51–70.

Morris, G. and Barnes, C. (2005) ‘An assessment of the impact of microfinance’, Journal of Microfinance 7(1): 39–54.

Mosley, P. (1998) ‘The use of control groups in impact assessments for microfinance’, working paper no. 19, Geneva: International Labour Organization.

Nader, Y. (2008) ‘Microcredit and the socio-economic wellbeing of women and their families in Cairo’, The Journal of Socio-Economics 37(2): 644–656.

Navajas, S., Schreiner, M., Meyer, R.L., Gonzalez-vega, C. and Rodriguez-meza, J. (2000) ‘Microcredit and the poorest of the poor: theory and evidence from Bolivia’, World Development 28(2): 333–46.

Oxaal, Z. and Baden, S. (1997) ‘Gender and empowerment: definitions, approaches and implications for policy’, report no. 40, BRIDGE (development – gender), Brighton: Institute of Development Studies.

Rahman, A. (1999) ‘Micro-credit initiatives for equitable and sustainable development: who pays?’, World Development 27(1): 67–82.

Razavi, S. (1997) ‘From rags to riches: looking at poverty from a gender perspective’, IDS Bulletin 28(3): 49–62.

Robinson, M. (2001) The Microfinance Revolution Sustainable Finance for the Poor, Washington, DC: World Bank.

van Rooyen, C., Stewart, R. and de Wet, T.D. (2012) ‘The impact of microfinance in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review of the evidence’, World Development, 40: 2249–62.

Salib, S., (2014) ‘FORA’s impact among migrants: primary findings’, Opportunity International Network, 3: 56–82.

Swain, R.B. and Adel, V. (2009) ‘Does self help group participation lead to asset creation?’, World Development, 37: 1674–82.