Affordable Capital Can Move Informal Entrepreneurs Into the Formal Economy
Rudy Espinoza, president and CEO of Inclusive Action for the City, argues that an economy that works for more people must bring informal entrepreneurs into formal systems, offer affordable capital to owners excluded from conventional lending, and protect businesses from displacement. His organization has deployed more than $10 million in loans and grants to support recovery and create paths to ownership, while challenging financial and property systems that, he says, deny many workers and small-business owners the chance to build lasting security.
The Aspen Institute·Aug 10, 2026·4 min read
