many related finance topics swirling around in my head these days... de Soto's work (see below), the Grameen Bank, related info on MicroFinance looking forward to exploring this stuff further this week.
and a side-riff on the "Globalization" thing:
We don't accomplish anything trying to prevent international trade from occurring. It WILL happen, and it's GOOD.
for the most part, i think demonstrations against Globalization are misguided. i can understand concerns about the over-representation of global corporations and their interests in the WTO, and concerns about how the sudden onset of international trade affects society and the environment -- however, generally trade promotes understanding between peoples and cultures (not to mention prevents wars). there are exceptions, but mostly all these demonstrations against Capital and Corporations are preventing a greater connection between people around the world, and limiting the options for developing nations.
Capital and Corporations are not Evil... they are simply what we make of them. They are aggregations of individuals, and the collective value of those individuals' efforts -- in other words, they are US, not "THEM". Demonstrating against Capital and Corporations is the equivalent of "demonstrating" against your own hard work and savings, and against the goods and services you use in your daily life. You might as well demonstrate against getting a job and eating. It's approximately the same thing.
We are not helping the 3rd world from cutting it off from global trade and capital. Furthermore, they don't WANT that kind of help. If we really want to empower the poor and disadvantaged and promote international understanding, we should focus on ways to create capital access and availability for the common man (and woman), and support small business creation with economic incentives and legal reform.
When we trade with others = exchange our goods & services & values with others... then we understand others.