Financial Inclusion and Bank Competition in Sub-Saharan Africa

Financial Inclusion and Bank Competition in Sub-Saharan Africa
Author: Azanaw Mengistu
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 29
Release: 2018-12-07
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1484386167

In this paper we study how competition and financial soundness affect financial inclusion in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We use detailed individual-level survey data, combined with key country-level indicators of bank competition and financial soundness, to study the effect on the adoption of several financial products (bank accounts, credit and debit cards, and bank loans). We find that more competition tends to increase the probability of access to these financial products. On the contrary, we do not find strong evidence of the effect of bank-balance sheet variables (i.e. capital adequacy or liquidity) on borrowing by individuals. Our results may help policy makers design regulations that could improve financial inclusion, which could potentially impact economic growth and long-term economic development.

FinTech in Sub-Saharan African Countries

FinTech in Sub-Saharan African Countries
Author: Mr.Amadou N Sy
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 61
Release: 2019-02-14
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1484385667

FinTech is a major force shaping the structure of the financial industry in sub-Saharan Africa. New technologies are being developed and implemented in sub-Saharan Africa with the potential to change the competitive landscape in the financial industry. While it raises concerns on the emergence of vulnerabilities, FinTech challenges traditional structures and creates efficiency gains by opening up the financial services value chain. Today, FinTech is emerging as a technological enabler in the region, improving financial inclusion and serving as a catalyst for the emergence of innovations in other sectors, such as agriculture and infrastructure.

Financial Development in Sub-Saharan Africa

Financial Development in Sub-Saharan Africa
Author: Mr.Montfort Mlachila
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 79
Release: 2016-09-14
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1475532407

This paper discusses how sub-Saharan Africa’s financial sector developed in the past few decades, compared with other regions. Sub-Saharan African countries have made substantial progress in financial development over the past decade, but there is still considerable scope for further development, especially compared with other regions. Indeed, until a decade or so ago, the level of financial development in a large number of sub-Saharan African countries had actually regressed relative to the early 1980s. With the exception of the region’s middle-income countries, both financial market depth and institutional development are lower than in other developing regions. The region has led the world in innovative financial services based on mobile telephony, but there remains scope to increase financial inclusion further. The development of mobile telephone-based systems has helped to incorporate a large share of the population into the financial system, especially in East Africa. Pan-African banks have been a driver for homegrown financial development, but they also bring a number of challenges.

Financial Sector Development in Africa

Financial Sector Development in Africa
Author: Thorsten Beck
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 255
Release: 2012-11-27
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0821396285

This edited volume contains eight studies of financial sector challenges in Africa that served as background studies for Financing Africa: Through the Crisis and Beyond. One of the major challenges for African financial systems is to expand financial services to a larger share of the population. The chapters in this area cover microfinance in Africa, the role of technology, reforms of payment infrastructure, and financing agriculture. Two chapters cover challenges in increasing long-term finance; one covers housing finance and the other the role of sovereign wealth fund. The book also contains a detailed discussion of bank regulation and supervision, especially in light of the current regulatory reforms in Europe and North America. The final chapter provides a political economy perspective, discussing the conditions for activist government policies in the financial sector.

FinTech in Sub-Saharan African Countries

FinTech in Sub-Saharan African Countries
Author: Mr.Rodolfo Maino
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 61
Release: 2019-02-14
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1484399455

FinTech is a major force shaping the structure of the financial industry in sub-Saharan Africa. New technologies are being developed and implemented in sub-Saharan Africa with the potential to change the competitive landscape in the financial industry. While it raises concerns on the emergence of vulnerabilities, FinTech challenges traditional structures and creates efficiency gains by opening up the financial services value chain. Today, FinTech is emerging as a technological enabler in the region, improving financial inclusion and serving as a catalyst for the emergence of innovations in other sectors, such as agriculture and infrastructure.

Developing Africa’s Financial Services

Developing Africa’s Financial Services
Author: Dana T. Redford
Publisher: Emerald Group Publishing
Total Pages: 313
Release: 2017-05-11
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 178714187X

Financial services are an essential element in powering entrepreneurial activity beyond resource extraction in Africa. This book examines the macro-trends and highlights inspiring success stories of entrepreneurial financial sector ventures that are making a lasting contribution to the economic development of various sub-Saharan African countries.

Making Finance Work for Africa

Making Finance Work for Africa
Author: Patrick Honohan
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 264
Release: 2007
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0821369105

Drawing on its extensive experience in helping restructure and reform financial systems, the World Bank examines the state of African domestic financial systems in a global comparison. It identifies promising trends as well as pinpointing the major shortcomings that are observed across sub-Saharan Africa. Policy recommendations distinguish between those designed to make finance a more effective driver of economic growth and those designed to give low income, small-scale and other excluded groups better access to financial services.

Achieving Financial Stability and Growth in Africa

Achieving Financial Stability and Growth in Africa
Author: Stephany Griffith-Jones
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 219
Release: 2016-03-24
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1317301684

This book explores how the financial system should be regulated and structured to achieve the twin goals of inclusive growth and financial stability, with a focus on African low-income countries (LICs). The subject and content of this book is original in that it attempts to draw on the lessons and radical rethinking on the financial sector in developed and middle income countries, arising in the wake of the international financial crisis. It includes four in- depth country case studies, of Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria and Ethiopia, but also analyses the empirical evidence for Sub-Saharan Africa as a whole, evaluating the relevance (or not) of such major changes for the very different financial sectors and economies in low income countries. Achieving Financial Stability and Growth in Africa has major academic and policy implications, especially for low income countries, but also more generally, on broader issues. These include the desirable size of the financial sector, as well as more specific issues, such as the high cost of borrowing of small and medium enterprises in LICs, and possible measures to reduce it. Highly topical subjects like the appropriate regulation of the financial sector and management of capital flows are discussed in depth. Though drawing on comprehensive reviews of the literature, this volume has the virtue of the large comparative academic and policy experience of researchers, as well as in-depth case studies, that take account of institutional and economic features of low- income countries. Written by senior academics and policy-makers, this book is a must read for those researching or participating in the financial sectors of low-income countries, as well as in developed economies. It is also suitable for those who study political economy and public finance.

Banking in Africa: Delivering on Financial Inclusion, Supporting Financial Stability

Banking in Africa: Delivering on Financial Inclusion, Supporting Financial Stability
Author: European Investment Bank
Publisher: European Investment Bank
Total Pages: 297
Release: 2018-11-21
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9286138482

In its fourth edition, this report focuses on recent developments in Africa's banking sectors and the policy options for all stakeholders. The study of banking sectors across all African sub-regions includes the results of the EIB survey of banking groups operating in Africa. Three thematic chapters address challenges and opportunities for financing investment in Africa: Crowding out of private sector lending by public debt issuance The state of bank recovery and resolution laws in Africa Policy options on how to finance infrastructure development. The report finds that in many African banking markets, the last two years saw a pause in financial deepening. However, a rising share of banking groups report improving market conditions and plan a structural expansion of their operations in Africa and a continued push for new technologies.