Another interesting comment made by Yunus in the Journal article was his belief that charity is not the best alternative to microloans. Yunus believes that charity cannot ever match a profit making industry for efficiency and service.

Around the country, as lawmakers and payday lending critics call for a ban on payday lending, maybe they should rethink their attitude that charity is an acceptable alternative to letting people help themselves?

Here is what Yunus said: 

• Mr. Yunus argues that it’s extremely difficult to bring efficiency to charity. But “the moment you bring in a business model, immediately you become concerned about the cost, about the revenue, the sustainability, the surplus generation, how to bring more efficiency, how to bring new technology, how to redesign, each year you review the whole thing . . . charity doesn’t have that package.”