a microcredit (sometimes called a micro-loan, or microloan) is a special kind of loan given to poor business people, mostly in developing countries. microcredits were created to support entrepreneurship, and to lessen poverty. very often, people getting a microcredit are illiterate: they cannot fill out forms to apply for a regular loan. microcredits also work differently: the interest ot be paid is usually much higher than with a regular loan, often it is over 20%. the interest usually also has to be paid more often. microcredits have been criticized, because people taking them often end up in a situation where they cannot repay their debt.