It is not possible for even a very small fraction of the 3 billion living in poverty (below $2 per day in income) to become successful entrepreneurs. Most of them do not have any education, business skills or financial resources. In countries like India, the poor are both illiterate and socially disadvantaged; there is little chance that micro-credit or even larger funds can help them plausibly start and run businesses. The present generation of impoverished people can only hope to earn a living by working in the fields for landlords or at businesses nearby.

Micro-credit is inadequate to meet the needs of businesses that have the potential to expand and add new employees. They require significantly larger credits – mini-loans of $1,000 to $10,000 or more for each activity – for such things as new machine tools, additional hardware and supplies, or a vehicle to transport the merchandise.