nep-fle New Economics Papers
on Financial Literacy and Education
Issue of 2025–10–06
six papers chosen by
Viviana Di Giovinazzo, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca


  1. Financial inclusion through more rural banks? By Klonner, Stefan; Xie, Min
  2. Can artificial intelligence help improve the financial literacy of primary schools’ students? By Bojidara Doseva; Catherine Dehon; Antonio Estache
  3. Financial inclusion, agricultural inputs use, and household food security evidence from Nigeria By Balana, Bedru; Olanrewaju, Opeyemi
  4. Catalyzing financial inclusion: Using incentives to promote mobile money use in Ethiopia By de Brauw, Alan; Gilligan, Daniel O.; Herskowitz, Sylvan; Roy, Shalini
  5. Digital Financial Inclusions for Sustainable Growth: Employing Natural Resources through Digital Governance By Abdul Ghaffar; Muhammad Asif; Areeba Ejaz; Kashif Raza
  6. Animal spirits on steroids: Evidence from retail options trading in India By Agarwal, Vikas; Ghosh, Pulak; Prabhala, Nagpurnanand R.; Zhao, Haibei

  1. By: Klonner, Stefan; Xie, Min
    JEL: O16
    Date: 2025
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:vfsc25:325440
  2. By: Bojidara Doseva; Catherine Dehon; Antonio Estache
    Date: 2025–09–25
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eca:wpaper:2013/394559
  3. By: Balana, Bedru; Olanrewaju, Opeyemi
    Abstract: This paper examines the effects of financial inclusion on adoption and intensity of use of agricultural inputs and household welfare indicators using data from the nationally representative Nigerian LSMS wave-3 (2015/2016) survey. For this, we constructed a financial inclusion index from four formal financial services access indicators (bank account, access to credit, insurance coverage, and digital transaction) using multiple correspondence analysis (MCA). We used Cragg’s two-step hurdle, instrumental variables for binary response variables, and a Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) models in the econometric analysis. Results show that households with access to formal financial services are more likely to adopt agricultural inputs and to apply these more intensively. These same households are less likely to experience severe food insecurity and are more likely to consume diverse food items. We also find that these effects are less for female farmers regardless of formal financial inclusion, suggesting that they may bear more non-financial constraints than their male counterparts. The results suggest a need for targeted interventions to increase access to formal financial services of farm households and gender-responsive interventions to address the differential constraints women farmers face.
    Keywords: farm inputs; financial inclusion; food security; households; inorganic fertilizers; seeds; Nigeria; Africa; Western Africa
    Date: 2024–11–21
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:ifprid:162588
  4. By: de Brauw, Alan; Gilligan, Daniel O.; Herskowitz, Sylvan; Roy, Shalini
    Abstract: Mobile money can be a vehicle for improving financial access, particularly among disadvantaged populations. For mobile money systems to play this role, though, members of disadvantaged groups must both enroll in and begin to use mobile money systems. In this paper, we describe a randomized trial conducted in collaboration with a bank in Somali region, Ethiopia, that attempted to stimulate use among recent mobile money enrollees in areas near refugee camps. We provide one group with a small transfer to their mobile money account and another group is told they will receive a small transfer if they first make three transactions of any type within a promotional period. The unconditional transfer induces a 9.3 percentage point increase in customers making at least one transaction, while the conditional transfer has no significant effect. The effect is larger among men, but there is evidence that it also induces use among women.
    Keywords: access to finance; refugees; gender; digital technology; currencies; finance; mobile phones; Ethiopia; Eastern Africa; Africa
    Date: 2024–11–26
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:ifprid:162765
  5. By: Abdul Ghaffar (BZU - Bahauddin Zakariya University); Muhammad Asif (Ghazi University); Areeba Ejaz (Ghazi University); Kashif Raza (Ghazi University)
    Abstract: Digital financial inclusion (DFI) initiatives have transformed the economy and environment by providing previously underbanked regions with enhanced access to banking, payment processing, and other financial services. This study analyses the correlations among DFI, GDP growth, and ecological sustainability, using the rapid expansion of digital finance in China as a case study. The research used econometric models to examine the impact of DFI on GDP growth and CO₂ emissions, including factors such as renewable energy adoption, industrial efficiency, and trade patterns. This purpose employs panel data from many national and international sources. The results demonstrate that reduced carbon intensity and improved economic inclusion correlate with heightened DFI penetration. Improved resource allocation, less travel for transactions, and increased green investment flows contribute to lower carbon intensity. The results suggest that DFI may fulfil climate action goals while promoting equitable growth, benefiting policymakers aiming to include financial innovation in sustainable development plans.
    Keywords: Digital Financial Inclusion, Sustainable Development, Digital Governance, China Natural Resources, China, Natural Resources, Natural Resources Digital Financial Inclusion Sustainable Development Digital Governance China Natural Resources Digital Financial Inclusion Sustainable Development Digital Governance China
    Date: 2025–08–31
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05236350
  6. By: Agarwal, Vikas; Ghosh, Pulak; Prabhala, Nagpurnanand R.; Zhao, Haibei
    Abstract: We analyze a market-wide panel dataset on retail options trading from India, a market with an 80% share in option contracts traded worldwide. Retail traders both concentrated in and dominate index options trading. They exhibit short-term speculative behavior with significant day trading, short- duration directional bets especially as options converge to 0DTE and make significant losses. Three natural experiments indicate that financial constraints and lottery-like preferences likely shape investor behavior. An exogenous increase in the supply of short-maturity options induces trading. Lot-size increases and delivery margins trying to curb speculation are offset by shifts to small ticket-size, riskier options. While financial market participation increases welfare in canonical household finance models, it can also entrench speculative behavior that is difficult to undo.
    Keywords: Options, Retail Options Trading, Speculation, Skewness, Lotteries, Gambling, Addiction, Financial Inclusion, Stock Market Participation
    JEL: D14 D18 G14 G15 G18 G50 G53 O16
    Date: 2025
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:cfrwps:327125

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