Today' talk about the importance of small businesses in creating 'jobs' is often limited to static measures like the numbers of jobs created or the number of people employed or unemployed, today.

The vast growth it has seen is proof that the Grameen Bank's brand of group lending -- which relies on peer pressure rather than collateral to ensure that debts are repaid -- can work in America.

With acknowledgment and talk of new microfinance savings products, financial inclusion for individuals and small businesses will hopefully become a reality for millions of Americans.

You may know the Web site Kiva.org for its groundbreaking use of microloans, which allow Americans to loan as little as $25 at a time to small busines...