May 01, 2024

Question of the Day [AAPI Heritage Month]: In the world of borrowing and lending, what is a "hui?"

Regional and cultural factors can lead to interesting alternatives compared to the US banking system.

Answer: A traditional Chinese lending circle where a group of people come together to save and borrow money.

A world map laid flat with currency from different countries scattered over it.

 

Questions:

  • How does the structure of a hui compare to traditional banking systems? What advantages and disadvantages can you identify?
  • Why is it crucial for the group leader of a hui to be trustworthy?
  • How might hui and similar lending circles help promote financial inclusion? Are there ways in which they might fall short?

 

Click here for the ready-to-go slides for this Question of the Day that you can use in your classroom.

 

Behind the numbers (WeTrust):

"The Trusted Lending Circle is known as a tanda or cundina in Latin America, as a susu in West Africa, as a hui in China, and as a ROSCA to social scientists. The term “biao hui” (标会 or 標會) is the Chinese term used to describe someone participating in one of these informal lending clubs. According to Wikipedia, most hui are structured such that:

“A particular Hui is usually initiated by a trusted figure/influencer within a community. This person is considered as the group leader and is in charge of recruiting and vetting all participating members. While other participants can also vouch for and extend the invitation to their friends and family members, their participation still requires approval of the group leader."

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Here are more AAPI Heritage Month resources on the NGPF Website!

About the Author

Ryan Wood

Ryan grew up with and maintains a love for learning. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay with a degree in Business Administration and worked in sports marketing for a number of years. After living in Texas, Colorado, Tennessee, and Minnesota, the call of education eventually brought Ryan back to his home state of Wisconsin where he was a Business and Marketing teacher for three years. In his free time he likes to spend time with his wife and daughter, play basketball, read, and go fishing. Now with NGPF, Ryan is excited to help teachers lead the most important course their students will ever take.

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