This 2007 World Bank policy research report reviews a broad range of research work focusing on access to finance.The report:

• presents indicators to measure financial access, analyzes its determinants, and evaluates the impact of access on growth, equity, and poverty reduction, drawing on research that uses data both at the firm and household level.
• discusses the role of government in advancing financial inclusion.

Although much remains to be learned, a significant amount of empirical analysis has been conducted on these issues over the past years. As with any review, taking stock of all this research also allows us to identify the many gaps in our knowledge and helps chart the way for future research.

It has long been recognized that well-functioning financial systems are essential for economic development.  And much attention has been paid to the depth and efficiency of financial systems.  Promoting broader access to financial services, however, has received much less attention, despite the emphasis it has received in theory. 

Without inclusive financial systems, poor individuals and small enterprises have to rely on their own resources to invest in education or take advantage of promising growth opportunities.

Financial sector policies that encourage competition, provide the right incentives to individuals, and help overcome access barriers are thus central not only to stability but also to growth, poverty reduction, and more equitable distribution of resources and capacities. 

The access dimension of financial development has often been overlooked mostly because of serious data gaps: researchers have only recently started to systematically collect data on access to and use of financial services across countries.