Do loans help small businesses grow? Looking beyond microfinance Miriam BruhnJohan OrtegaClaudia Ruiz April 28, 2026 This page in: English © 2026 World Bank Group,

https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/allaboutfinance/do-loans-help-small-businesses-grow--looking-beyond-microfinance?cid=ECR_E_NewsletterWeekly_EN_EXT&deliveryName=DM280554 Much of what we know about access to finance comes from studies of microfinance, small loans typically made to self‑employed individuals or household businesses. This large body of evidence has shown that microcredit often increases business activity, but on average it has limited effects on profits and job creation. These findings have shaped how policy makers think about finance and development. © 2026 World Bank Group,