In this week's Slate.com advice column on philanthropic living and giving, Sandy Stonesifer discusses findings from Portfolios of the Poor to address a growing field of interest in microfinance: the impact of microlending sites on poverty alleviation.  Citing one of the fundamental lessons of Portfolios, Ms. Stonesifer asserts that the biggest challenge of poverty isn't necessarily how small your income is, but rather how variable and unpredictable it can be.  Thus, a financial instrument that helps households smooth their income is valuable even it it doesn't change their net income. 

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