Alternate Names for Informal Credit

While the GDRC takes a "neutral" view of informal credit markets (ICMs) and highlights both its positive and negative aspects, literature reviews show a more diverse range of alternate names for the sector.

Informal Credit is known by different names in different countries. The particular name used actually reflects the attitudes and policy outlooks of that country, ranging from supportive to neutral to hostile. They also indicate the wide range of supplier types that can be found in the ICM.

Informal Credit Market - ADB, PIDS
Informal Financial Sector - Chandravarkar/SEACEM
Unorganized Money Market - SEACEM, Gopal Karkal
Non-Institutional Credit - Reserve Bank of India
Informal Financial Markets - USAID, World Bank, BIDS
Black Money - Reserve Bank of India
Indigenous Banking Sector - Bouman, Bhargawa, Jain
Traditional Financial Sector -
Parallel Money Markets - Das-gupta
Unorganized Financial Sector - Park, World Bank
Unregulated Banking System - Nayar, IFMAR
Underground Money Markets - Far Eastern Economic Review

If you have any suggestions or additions to the list above, please do send an email to the address listed below.

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Hari Srinivas - hsrinivas@gdrc.org
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