scholarly journals Industry 4.0 in Finance: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on Digital Financial Inclusion

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 45 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Mhlanga

This study sought to investigate the impact of AI on digital financial inclusion. Digital financial inclusion is becoming central in the debate on how to ensure that people who are at the lower levels of the pyramid become financially active. Fintech companies are using AI and its various applications to ensure that the goal of digital financial inclusion is realized that is to ensure that low-income earners, the poor, women, youths, small businesses participate in the mainstream financial market. This study used conceptual and documentary analysis of peer-reviewed journals, reports and other authoritative documents on AI and digital financial inclusion to assess the impact of AI on digital financial inclusion. The present study discovered that AI has a strong influence on digital financial inclusion in areas related to risk detection, measurement and management, addressing the problem of information asymmetry, availing customer support and helpdesk through chatbots and fraud detection and cybersecurity. Therefore, it is recommended that financial institutions and non-financial institutions and governments across the world adopt and scale up the use of AI tools and applications as they present benefits in the quest to ensure that the vulnerable groups of people who are not financially active do participate in the formal financial market with minimum challenges and maximum benefits.

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 92 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Bosco Nnyanzi ◽  
John Mayanja Bbale ◽  
Richard Sendi

Increasing domestic revenue mobilization remains a challenge for many governments, particularly in low-income countries. Using a sample of East African countries, the study sets off to investigate the impact of financial development from a multi-dimensional perspective on tax revenues for the period 1990 to 2014, and how political development and the control of corruption would enhance the observed nexus. The dynamic panel results from the system GMM estimation approach indicate a significant role of financial development overall and the financial institutions and financial markets in particular. A disaggregation of the duo suggests that it is the depth of financial institutions that greatly matters for tax revenue, with a one per cent change expected to yield about 0.26 per cent change in tax collections. It is then followed by their level of accessibility, financial market depth and efficiency. We fail to find significant evidence in support of financial market access and financial institutions efficiency although the possibility for the latter seems indismissible. Further evidence points to the catalytic nature of a good institutional and political environment in pursuit of higher tax-GDP ratio via financial development. Policies to promote the depth and accessibility of financial institutions as well the depth and efficiency of financial markets in East Africa alongside well-focused anti-corruption programs and democratic governance are likely to yield better fiscal outcomes in terms of domestic tax revenues critically needed to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. We also confirm the positive role played by the lagged tax revenue, per capita GDP, trade openness, debt-to-GDP ratio and population density in the tax effort.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 1001-1008
Author(s):  
Hina Affandi ◽  
Qaisar Ali Malik

Purpose: Financial institutions engage in performing imperative part in the economic development of an economy through circulation of funds that resulting in employment and fair distribution of limited resources. Financial literacy results in usage of financial product and services provided by financial institutions that lead to pervasive growth of an economy. Financial inclusion takes into loop the excluded segment of a developing country to attain the desired financial and economic outcomes. Recognizing the importance of financial inclusion, this study is executed to investigate the impact of financial literacy on financial inclusion in street vendors. Design/methodology/approach: This study was conducted in twin cities Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Snowball and purposive sampling technique has been used in this study. Primary data has been collected from street vendors through semi structure interviews and questionnaire. Participatory action research design is used in this study. Deductive approach has been used for qualitative data analysis. Findings: The results of this study found that street vendors only name financial institutions. They don’t have knowledge about financial products and services provided by those financial institutions. Because of inadequate knowledge, majority of the street vendors do not use financial products and services which are available to them. A very small number of street vendors are using financial products and services. The expected outcomes of this study set a direction for policy makers of financial institutions about how to increase financial inclusion by considering the observed relations in this study. Practical implications: The results will help policy makers in formulating effective strategies to bring into the net that excluded segment, which if included will not only improve their quality of life but also augment to the sustainability and growth of economy through financial inclusion. Originality/value: As suggested by the recent relevant literature, the study is an attempt to identify those antecedents of financial inclusion, which has not been explored earlier in context of Pakistan, to extend the earlier findings through qualitative research method and to establish how financial inclusion can be made a success in achieving its desired outcomes in a developing economy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tekeste Berhanu Lakew ◽  
Hossein Azadi

It is important to evaluate the impact of Ethiopia’s financial inclusion strategy since it has been launched in 2014. Accordingly, this paper assesses the extent to which the target has been met. The main aim of this study is to measure the success or failure of Ethiopia’s financial inclusion in comparison with other countries in East Africa. Using secondary data, this study revealed that Ethiopia’s financial inclusion is not as successful as other East African countries. This study also found that Ethiopians prefer informal saving clubs rather than formal financial organs. This preference, combined with unemployment and low income, is the barrier to the financial inclusion strategy. Based on the findings, identifying and addressing root causes should be done by removing distance, cost, credit, and documentation barriers. Moreover, the findings showed that access to public transit can also expand the reach of formal financial institutions by encouraging more people to physically access financial institutions. This study recommended access to formal financial organs as a core to financial institutions. Access to formal financial organs should be boosted through increasing financial institutions. Educating individuals about their financial circumstances were also recommended so that people can increase their formal saving uptake. This paper also recommended that the government develop regulatory guidelines for the functioning of financial institutions. The main outcome, therefore, is that financial institutions could be more transparent and predictable, reduce costs, and simplify the rules for entering the market.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 50
Author(s):  
Tea Kasradze

Financial inclusion is often considered as an access to financial resources for the wide public and small and medium-sized businesses, although it is a much broader concept and includes a wide range of access to quality financial products and services, including loans, deposit services, insurance, pensions and payment systems. Mechanisms for protecting the rights of consumers of financial products and services are also considered to be subject to financial inclusion. Financial inclusion acquires great importance during the pandemic and post-pandemic period. The economic crisis caused by the pandemic is particularly painful for low-income vulnerable population. A large part of the poor population who were working informally has lost source of income due to lockdown from the pandemic. Remittances have also been reduced / minimized, as the remitters had also lost jobs and are unable to send money home. Today, when people die from Coronavirus disease, it may be awkward to talk about the financial side of a pandemic, but the financial consequences can be far-reaching if steps are not taken today to ensure access to and inclusion of financial resources. The paper examines the impact of the pandemic on financial inclusion and the responses of the governments and the financial sectors to the challenge of ensuring the financial inclusion of the poor population and small and medium enterprises.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 168-182
Author(s):  
David Mhlanga ◽  
◽  
Steven Henry Dunga ◽  
Tankiso Moloi ◽  
◽  
...  

The study sought to investigate the impact of financial inclusion on poverty reduction in Zimbabwe among the smallholder farmers. It is alleged that financial inclusion can help in achieving seven of the seventeen sustainable development goals (SDGs), which include poverty eradication in all its forms everywhere, ending hunger, achieving food security, ensuring improved nutrition as well as promoting sustainable agriculture and many others. Using the simple regression method, the study discovered that financial inclusion has a strong impact on poverty reduction among smallholder farmers. The study went on to discover that, for the government to tackle poverty especially among the smallholder farmers, it is important to ensure that farmers do participate in the financial sector through saving, borrowing and taking out insurance among other services. So, it is important for the government of Zimbabwe to fully implement policies that encourage financial inclusion such as making sure that farmers find it easy to access financial institutions and encouraging financial institutions to review transaction costs like bank account opening charges periodically, implementing financial education programs among the farmers because these variables are important in influencing farmers to participate or preventing them from using financial services.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
P. Nagarajan

Finance has become an essential part of an economy for development of the society as well as economy of nation. World leaders are embracing nancial inclusion at an accelerating pace, because they know that an inclusive nancial system that responsibly reaches all citizens is an important ingredient for social and economic progress for emerging markets and developing countries. Despite the political tailwind, half of the working-age adults globally – 2.5 billion people – remain excluded from formal nancial services. Instead, they have to rely on the age-old informal mechanisms of the moneylender or pawnbroker for credit or the rotating savings club and vulnerable livestock for savings. The pandemic has had a momentous impact on economies and societies around the world. At the same time, it has shown that, with the right approach, it is possible to protect and safeguard the economy. . Through Financial inclusion we can achieve equitable and inclusive growth of the nation. Financial inclusion stands for delivery of appropriate nancial services at an affordable cost, on timely basis to vulnerable groups such as low income groups and weaker section who lack access to even the most basic banking services. It helps in economic development as it widens the resource base of the nancial system by developing a culture of savings among large segment of rural population. Further, nancial inclusion protects their nancial wealth and other resources in exigent circumstances by bringing low income groups within the perimeter of formal banking sector. Financial inclusion engages in including poor people in the formal banking industry with the intention of securing their minimal nances for future purposes. Micronance has become a medium of extending nancial services to unbanked sections of population. Micronance is banking the unbankables, bringing credit, savings and other essential nancial services within the reach of millions of people who are too poor to be served by regular banks, in most cases because they are unable to offer sufcient collateral. In a country like India with almost 30% (more than 360 million) people still below poverty line and according to latest census gures, more than 70% or 840 million people living in rural areas with little or no access to formal banking and other nancial services, micronance has a big role to play in order to bridge this gap. The Micro Finance Institutions occupies key position in nancial inclusion through micro nance where the exclusion. In developing countries, the growth of micronance institutions (MFIs) which specically target low income individuals are viewed as potentially useful for promotion of nancial inclusion. Even though MFIs at present, mainly offer only credit products; as they grow, they are likely to expand their product range to include other nancial services.


2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 600-626 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatriz Fernández-Olit ◽  
José María Martín Martín ◽  
Eva Porras González

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a systematic literature review of the research published on financial inclusion (FI) and financial exclusion (FE) in developed countries using key terms and strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. Design/methodology/approach In total, 52 papers were deemed to be relevant to the analysis. These works were critiqued using a framework that addressed geographical contexts, topics, methodologies and theoretical frameworks. Findings This review highlights the uneven level of development of the academic debate between North America, the UK and continental Europe, and identifies the different theoretical frameworks that construe the body of literature in each region. In addition, the findings show the scant offer of work on the impact that the digital economy has on FE, as well as the reduced number of studies which have focused on certain vulnerable groups and the access to some financial services. Social implications The studies reviewed have not analyzed the specific needs of vulnerable groups while considering the different contexts and pathways to exclusion. The evaluation of solutions and strategies to achieve inclusion is one of the least addressed aspects in the literature. Originality/value The paper synthesizes the main contributions of the top literature on the redefinition of FI/FE in developed countries, the role of fringe services and new determinants of exclusion. The proliferation of studies regarding FI in low- and middle-income countries has generated a great amount of meta-analysis and systematized reviews of asymmetric results. However, no systematized literature review on the broad scope of FI/FE in developed countries has been published in the last decade. This work sheds light over poorly analyzed areas of research that refer to notable social problems.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (22) ◽  
pp. 6249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahram Heydari ◽  
Adrian Hickford ◽  
Rich McIlroy ◽  
Jeff Turner ◽  
Abdulgafoor M. Bachani

Road safety in low-income countries (LICs) remains a major concern. Given the expected increase in traffic exposure due to the relatively rapid motorisation of transport in LICs, it is imperative to better understand the underlying mechanisms of road safety. This in turn will allow for planning cost-effective road safety improvement programs in a timely manner. With the general aim of improving road safety in LICs, this paper discusses the state of knowledge and proposes a number of future research directions developed from literature reviews and expert elicitation. Our study takes a holistic approach based on the Safe Systems framework and the framework for the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety. We focused mostly on examining the problem from traffic engineering and safety policy standpoints, but also touched upon other sectors, including public health and social sciences. We identified ten focus areas relating to (i) under-reporting; (ii) global best practices; (iii) vulnerable groups; (iv) disabilities; (v) road crash costing; (vi) vehicle safety; (vii) proactive approaches; (viii) data challenges; (ix) social/behavioural aspects; and (x) capacity building. Based on our findings, future research ought to focus on improvement of data systems, understanding the impact of and addressing non-fatal injuries, improving estimates on the economic burden, implementation research to scale up programs and transfer learnings, as well as capacity development. Our recommendations, which relate to both empirical and methodological frontiers, would lead to noteworthy improvements in the way road safety data collection and research is conducted in the context of LICs.


2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grahame Whitfield ◽  
Chris Dearden

This article reflects on research undertaken with low income households over a 12 month period following the ‘credit crunch’, a period characterised by rapid change to the financial landscape in the UK. It argues that people living on persistent low incomes were casualties of the economic ‘boom’ as they did not benefit from economic growth and of the ‘bust’ in that they most keenly felt the impact of the recession and the reaction of financial institutions to the new financial landscape. It concludes by arguing that, reflecting on the complexity of people's lives, addressing indebtedness requires a multi-faceted approach.


Author(s):  
Oluseye Ajuwon ◽  
Sylvanus Ikhide ◽  
Joseph Akotey

This study investigated the roles of transactions cost in MSMEs access to finance. This was done by investigating the impact of transactions cost on access to credit from both MSMEs and financial institutions (commercial banks and microfinance banks). From the MSMEs’ side, borrowing experience, decision lag, firm size and borrowers’ distance to the loan office were investigated. On the financial institution’s side, the costs of information gathering, loan administration, monitoring and loan enforcement were investigated. We used the questionnaire survey method, in-depth interviews and case studies, as well as the annual financial statements of the banks. We identified interest rate and collateral value as constraints to access to finance for MSMEs. We also found financial institutions’ attitude to MSMEs access to credit was not friendly. Financial institutions need to do more to bring down transaction cost of lending. This hopefully can be achieved by investing more in agent banking which would lower operating costs, as well as spreading risk, and ultimately increase credit intermediation to small businesses.


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