François Doligez — Micro-finance and economic dynamics : What effects after ten years of financial innovations ? This article examines some questions related to the impact of micro-finance on the « real sphere » : who has access to credit ? Does it improve revenues and investments and therefore the local economy or, on the contrary, does it induce negative effects on the consumption and the living levels of the borrowers ? The article is based on fieldwork concerning three rural micro-credit networks in Benin, in Guinea and in Nicaragua. The comparative analysis of more than 3 000 surveys brings to light the ambivalent development of access to credits and illustrates, beyond standardised methods that are frequently used, the importance of socioeconomic effects.