The African Financial Development and Financial Inclusion Gaps

The African Financial Development and Financial Inclusion Gaps
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 37
Release: 2014
Genre: Economic development
ISBN:

This paper investigates the African financial development and financial inclusion gaps relative to other peer developing countries. The paper uses a set of variables related to financial development and inclusion. It first estimates the gaps between African countries and other developing countries with similar degrees of economic development. Then, it explores the determinants of financial development and inclusion. The analysis finds that population density is considerably more important for financial development and inclusion in Africa than elsewhere. Finally, the paper shows evidence that a recent innovation in financial services, mobile banking, has helped to overcome infrastructural problems and improve financial access.

The African Financial Development and Financial Inclusion Gaps

The African Financial Development and Financial Inclusion Gaps
Author: Franklin Allen
Publisher:
Total Pages: 37
Release: 2017
Genre:
ISBN:

This paper investigates the African financial development and financial inclusion gaps relative to other peer developing countries. The paper uses a set of variables related to financial development and inclusion. It first estimates the gaps between African countries and other developing countries with similar degrees of economic development. Then, it explores the determinants of financial development and inclusion. The analysis finds that population density is considerably more important for financial development and inclusion in Africa than elsewhere. Finally, the paper shows evidence that a recent innovation in financial services, mobile banking, has helped to overcome infrastructural problems and improve financial access.

Financial Inclusion and Development in the CEMAC

Financial Inclusion and Development in the CEMAC
Author: Adrian Alter
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 31
Release: 2015-11-09
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1513570188

This paper examines financial inclusion and development in the CEMAC. We explore the level of financial inclusion in the CEMAC through a benchmarking exercise.We construct a measure of financial development gap and analyze its determinants. Using panel data regressions, we find that inflation, income, and natural resources explain most of the financial development level but that better financial sector governance and stronger economic governance are positively associated with financial sector development. Richer and poorer countries can be equally far from their expected financial development levels. Finally, we use a benchmarking exercise to identify countries that have successfully reduced the financial development gap and propose policy measures that CEMAC countries could use to boost financial inclusion.

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.

Extending Financial Inclusion in Africa

Extending Financial Inclusion in Africa
Author: Daniel Makina
Publisher: Academic Press
Total Pages: 344
Release: 2019-06-09
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0128142030

Extending Financial Inclusion in Africa unveils the genesis and transformation of Africa's financial sector and its ability to provide finance for all. Contributors of the Book traverse the whole spectrum of African financial systems, examining their depth and breadth and empirically evaluating their appropriateness and effectiveness to achieve inclusive financial services. - Explores the evolution of the financial sector in Africa from the pre-colonial to post-colonial era - Investigates the financial inclusion–economic growth nexus - Explores the role of financial regulation and governance in either enhancing or limiting financial inclusion - Evaluates unintended consequences of financial inclusion, including over-indebtedness and increased propensity to spend - Assesses cross-sectional evidence on the link between financial inclusion and technological developments such as the internet and mobile technology

Inclusive Financial Development

Inclusive Financial Development
Author: Ahmad, Ahmad H.
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
Total Pages: 352
Release: 2021-10-19
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1800376383

Inclusive Financial Development provides theoretical and empirical analyses of the nature of financial inclusion. The contributing authors explore the impediments to inclusion that exist around the world, the macro and stability implications, and the regulation dimension.

The Global Findex Database 2017

The Global Findex Database 2017
Author: Asli Demirguc-Kunt
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 228
Release: 2018-04-19
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1464812683

In 2011 the World Bank—with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation—launched the Global Findex database, the world's most comprehensive data set on how adults save, borrow, make payments, and manage risk. Drawing on survey data collected in collaboration with Gallup, Inc., the Global Findex database covers more than 140 economies around the world. The initial survey round was followed by a second one in 2014 and by a third in 2017. Compiled using nationally representative surveys of more than 150,000 adults age 15 and above in over 140 economies, The Global Findex Database 2017: Measuring Financial Inclusion and the Fintech Revolution includes updated indicators on access to and use of formal and informal financial services. It has additional data on the use of financial technology (or fintech), including the use of mobile phones and the Internet to conduct financial transactions. The data reveal opportunities to expand access to financial services among people who do not have an account—the unbanked—as well as to promote greater use of digital financial services among those who do have an account. The Global Findex database has become a mainstay of global efforts to promote financial inclusion. In addition to being widely cited by scholars and development practitioners, Global Findex data are used to track progress toward the World Bank goal of Universal Financial Access by 2020 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The database, the full text of the report, and the underlying country-level data for all figures—along with the questionnaire, the survey methodology, and other relevant materials—are available at www.worldbank.org/globalfindex.

Resolving the African Financial Development Gap

Resolving the African Financial Development Gap
Author: Franklin Allen
Publisher:
Total Pages: 43
Release: 2012
Genre: Banks and banking
ISBN:

With extensive country- and firm-level data sets we first document that the financial sectors of most sub-Saharan African countries remain significantly underdeveloped by the standards of other developing countries. We also find that population density appears to be considerably more important for banking sector development in Africa than elsewhere. To better understand how countries can overcome the high costs of developing viable banking sectors outside large metropolitan areas, we focus on Kenya, which has made significant strides in financial inclusion and development in recent years. We find a positive and significant impact of Equity Bank, a leading private commercial bank on financial access, especially for under-privileged households. Equity Bank's business model-providing financial services to population segments typically ignored by traditional commercial banks and generating sustainable profits in the process-can be a potential solution to the financial access problem that has hindered the development of inclusive financial sectors in many other African countries.

Transforming Africa

Transforming Africa
Author: Dana T. Redford
Publisher: Emerald Group Publishing
Total Pages: 201
Release: 2022-01-26
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1802620559

Transforming Africa: How Savings Groups Foster Financial Inclusion, Resilience and Economic Development presents in-depth empirical research into current day savings group activities across Africa, exploring savings groups through the lens of financial inclusion and reflecting on formal finance, economic and social outcomes.