| The Economist article talks about someone in Kenya being given $1000USD. That's about 84800KSH. Minimum wage for Kenya varies, but 4855KSH ($57USD) per month is what a general laborer gets.[1] That person is getting very roughly 17 months income. That's very different to "winning the lottery". But perhaps this man is one of the 50% of Kenyans living below the poverty line.[2] ($2USD per day) So, if he gets $1.25USD per day a $1000USD lump sum would be a bit more than 2 years income. Microfinance is not the wonder that people once thought it was[3], but giving money to people directly seems to work quite well. [1] http://www.wageindicator.org/main/salary/minimum-wage/kenya http://www.ruralpovertyportal.org/country/home/tags/kenya [2] http://c2050922.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/images/172... [3] http://www.irinnews.org/report/95067/development-microfinanc... |