nep-mfd New Economics Papers
on Microfinance
Issue of 2024–01–01
two papers chosen by



  1. The of role economic growth in modulating mobile connectivity dynamics for financial inclusion in developing countries By Asongu, Simplice; Odhiambo, Nicholas
  2. Mobile Money, Perception about Cash, and Financial Inclusion: Learning from Uganda’s Micro-Level Data By Felix F. Simione; Tara S Muehlschlegel

  1. By: Asongu, Simplice; Odhiambo, Nicholas
    Abstract: This study establishes economic growth needed for supply-side mobile money drivers in developing countries to be positively related to mobile money innovations in the perspectives of mobile money accounts, the mobile phone used to send money, and the mobile phone used to receive money. The empirical evidence is based on Tobit regressions. For the negative net relationships that are computed, minimum economic growth thresholds are established above which the net negative relationships become net positive relationships. The following minimum economic growth rates are required for nexuses between supply-side mobile money drivers and mobile money innovations to be positive: (i) 6.109% (6.193%) of GDP growth for mobile connectivity performance to be positively associated with the mobile phone used to send (receive) money and (ii) 4.590 % (4.259%) of GDP growth for mobile connectivity coverage to be positively associated with the mobile phone used to send (receive) money.
    Keywords: Mobile money; technology diffusion; financial inclusion; inclusive innovation
    JEL: D10 D14 D31 D60 O30
    Date: 2022–01
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:119060
  2. By: Felix F. Simione; Tara S Muehlschlegel
    Abstract: Will mobile money render cash less dominant over time in Africa? Can it promote financial inclusion? We shed light on these questions by exploring individual-level and nationally representative survey data for Uganda, a country in a region that pioneered mobile money in the world. We use the Propensity Score Matching method to robustly compare mobile money users and non-users across a range of indicators that capture individuals’ perceptions about cash, and the extent to which they remit, save, and borrow money. We present the first evidence that mobile money users, compared to non-users, are more likely to perceive cash as risky and less likely to prefer carrying large amounts of cash. We also confirm that mobile money users are more likely to receive and send remittances, save, and borrow. They also save and borrow larger amounts.
    Keywords: Developing Country; Innovation; Digital Divide
    Date: 2023–11–17
    URL: https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2023/238

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