The Intersection of Culture Language, and Microfinance: Advancing Poverty Alleviation

The paper examines how culture and language influence the effectiveness of microfinance in reducing poverty. Using data from 51 countries over two decades, the study argues that linguistic structures reflect deeper cultural norms—such as hierarchy, communication style, and formality—which shape how microfinance organizations allocate resources and interact with communities. The findings show that successful poverty alleviation through microfinance depends not only on financial resources but also on the cultural and linguistic context in which programs operate.

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•That’s Interesting Award” (Runner-up), Recognised for an original, boundary-crossing paper that challenged established assumptions in International Business, Academy of International Business (AIB), AIB Annual Meeting, AIB Executive Board, Louisville, USA.