Introduction to the financial services in Africa special issue

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Makina
Keyword(s):  
Gender Discrimination ◽  
Financial Literacy ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Financial Inclusion ◽  
Original Research ◽  
Research Papers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Access To Credit ◽  
Exchange Markets ◽  
Selection Of

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the landscape of financial services in Africa through the prism of a selection of research papers. Design/methodology/approach This is a review of literature that focusses on access to financial services (i.e. financial inclusion) and empirical findings from research papers in this issue of the journal. Findings The landscape of financial services in Africa is as heterogeneous as the countries comprising the continent. Common features include low levels of financial inclusion, low financial literacy, constrained access to credit, costly credit when available, gender discrimination in account ownership, and use and inefficient foreign exchange markets. Nevertheless, there are promising innovations, especially the mobile money innovation, which have the potential to foster more inclusive financial systems. Originality/value All the papers in this volume are based on original research shedding new insights on various aspects of financial services in Africa.

Improving productivity among smallholder farmers in Ghana: does financial inclusion matter?

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
James Atta Peprah ◽  
Isaac Koomson ◽  
Joshua Sebu ◽  
Bukari Chei
Keyword(s):  
Financial Services ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Agricultural Productivity ◽  
Financial Inclusion ◽  
Living Standard ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Access To Credit ◽  
Pooled Data ◽  
Financial Products ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeDoes financial inclusion matter for productivity among smallholder farmers? The authors answer this question by using the sixth and seventh rounds of the Ghana Living Standard Survey to examine the extent to which financial inclusion affects productivity among smallholder farmers in Ghana.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses a pooled data of the 6th and 7th rounds of the Ghana Living Standard Survey which are national representative data. The authors model an Instrumental Variable (IV) to correct for endogeneity in financial inclusion and a dominance analysis to examine the effects of access to credit, ownership of savings account and insurance product on farmers' productivity.FindingsResults from the study indicate that financial inclusion significantly enhances productivity. Moreover, credit, savings and insurance products influence productivity at various degrees. Thus, expanding the scope of financial services (access to credit, savings and insurance) among smallholder farmers is crucial for inclusive finance and sustainable agricultural production.Practical implicationsThe findings of the study have implications for financial institutions in the design of financial products that the meet the needs of smallholder farmers.Originality/valueSeveral studies have looked at how access to credit influences agricultural productivity in Africa. However, in recent times financial inclusion has been advocated for because it goes beyond mere access to credit. This paper to the best of our knowledge is the first of its kind to examine how financial inclusion could affect agricultural productivity in Ghana.

Financial self-efficacy: a mediator in advancing financial inclusion

2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 128-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Mindra ◽  
Musa Moya
Keyword(s):  
Financial Literacy ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Structural Equation Models ◽  
Financial Inclusion ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Mediation Effects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating effect of financial self-efficacy (FSE) on the relationship between financial attitude, financial literacy and financial inclusion (FI) among individuals in Uganda. Design/methodology/approach Using a quantitative approach and cross-sectional research design, a sample of 400 individuals from urban Central and rural Northern Uganda was drawn. Using SPSS and AMOS™ 21, structural equation models and bootstrapping methods were used to establish the hypothesized relationships and mediation effects between financial attitude, financial literacy and FI. Findings The results suggested FSE as a mediator of the relationship between financial attitude, financial literacy and FI. Further, there was a significant and insignificant relationship between financial literacy, financial attitude and FI, respectively. Research limitations/implications The study was assessed using both potential and actual consumers of financial services collectively. However if separately assessed, possibly there would be a variation in perceptions or behavioural responses towards FI. Practical implications There is a need to develop and sustain high levels of financial confidence among individuals to enable them use formal financial services. Social implications Possession of financial knowledge, skills, an evaluative judgement with high levels of financial confidence enable individuals make financial decisions that improve their integration into the formal financial system and improved welfare. Originality/value The results contribute towards the limited empirical and theoretical evidence regarding the mediating role of FSE in explaining the financial behaviour.

Colombia financial inclusion set to progress

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Latin American ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
Financial System ◽  
Financial Inclusion ◽  
Foreign Banks ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Access To Credit ◽  
Financial Exclusion

Subject Financial inclusion in Colombia. Significance Colombia saw nearly 1 million adults join the financial system for the first time in 2016, despite the economy struggling with sluggish growth. Financial inclusion is a high priority for several Latin American governments at the moment, with high degrees of financial exclusion viewed as obstacles to economic growth, social inclusion and poverty reduction. Impacts Greater financial inclusion will help reduce informality in the Colombian economy, and the high use of cash. Improved access to credit and a range of financial services will support the growth of the country’s many SMEs. Millions of new financial system customers will make Colombia even more attractive to foreign banks.

Determinants of Financial Inclusion in Namobuddha Municipality, Nepal

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-74
Author(s):  
Jeetendra Dangol ◽  
Anil Humagain
Keyword(s):  
Financial Literacy ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Control Variable ◽  
Financial Innovation ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Financial Inclusion ◽  
Gender Education ◽  
And Control ◽  
Moderating Role

Financial inclusion is a priority agenda in countries like Nepal. The study seeks to determine the access to financial services, financial innovation and quality of financial services to the financial inclusion.The study is based on questionnaire surveydata with363 household respondents using a convenient sampling technique, and carried out in Namobuddha Municipality of Nepal. The moderating effect of financial literacy and control variable of demographic items have been analysed using generalised regression model. The results show that financial innovation and quality of financial services are the significant determinants of financial inclusion; financial literacy is found significant and it plays a moderating role between the variables under study. The findings revealed that the tendency of higher level of financial inclusion was influenced by gender, education level and monthly income.

Quality financial inclusion and its determinants in South Africa: evidence from survey data

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kudakwashe Joshua Chipunza ◽  
Ashenafi Fanta
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Survey Data ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Financial Inclusion ◽  
Least Squares Regression ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Demographic Groups ◽  
Financial Products ◽  
Data Limitations

PurposeThe study measured quality financial inclusion, a more comprehensive measure of financial inclusion, and examined its determinants at a consumer level in South Africa.Design/methodology/approachThis study leveraged on FinScope 2015 survey data to compute a quality financial inclusion index using polychoric principal component analysis. Subsequently, a heteroscedasticity consistent ordinary least squares regression model was employed to assess determinants of quality financial inclusion.FindingsThe empirical findings indicated that gender, education, financial literacy, income, location and geographical proximity determine quality financial inclusion. These findings could inform policymakers and financial services providers on how quality financial inclusion can be promoted through tailoring financial products for various socio-demographic groups.Research limitations/implicationsDue to data limitations, the study was confined to South Africa and did not capture digital financial inclusion. Hence, future studies could replicate the study in Sub-Saharan Africa's context and compute an index that captures digital financial inclusion.Practical implicationsThese findings could inform policymakers and financial services providers on how quality financial inclusion can be promoted through tailoring financial products for various socio-demographic groups.Originality/valueThis study proposed a more comprehensive measure of quality financial inclusion from a demand-side perspective by accounting for important dimensions that include diversity, affordability, appropriateness and flexibility of financial products and services.

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