Digital financial innovations in the twenty-first century

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 185-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Okello Candiya Bongomin ◽  
Pierre Yourougou ◽  
John C. Munene
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Moderating Effect ◽  
Financial Inclusion ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mobile Money ◽  
Financial Innovations ◽  
Tax Exemptions ◽  
Transaction Taxes ◽  
Transaction Tax ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose Premised on the assertion that financial digitalization is currently the panacea and game changer in delivering progress towards the sustainable development goals (SDGs) through universal financial inclusion, especially in developing countries, the purpose of this paper is to establish the moderating effect of transaction tax exemptions in the relationship between mobile money adoption and usage and financial inclusion. Design/methodology/approach A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 379 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which use mobile money services drawn from the Northern District of Gulu in Uganda to provide responses for this study. The predictive relevancy and the effect size of the model were determined by running partial least square algorithm through structural equation model (SEM) with 5,000 bootstrap samples in SmartPLS-SEM 3.0. Findings The findings indicated that all the latent variables of transaction tax exemptions showed significant and positive impact on mobile money adoption and usage to advance financial inclusion in developing countries. Moreover, when combined together, the overall SEM predictive model revealed a significant moderating effect of transaction tax exemptions in the relationship between mobile money adoption and usage and financial inclusion. This implies that transaction tax exemptions on digital financial innovations such as the mobile money services can stimulate economic growth through increased level of financial inclusion labeled as the main enabler in achieving the SDGs by the year 2030. Research limitations/implications Whereas data were collected from users of mobile money services, the samples were drawn specifically from MSMEs’ owners located in the Northern District of Gulu in Uganda. Thus, users located in other districts were not included in the sample for this study. Similarly, this study limited itself to only financial services offered through the mobile money platform. It ignored other digital financial channels such as the internet and electronic banking. Practical implications Going forward, in order to improve the economic well-being of households at the “bottom of the pyramid,” governments in developing countries should embrace the significant role of transaction tax exemptions in promoting digital financial innovations such as the mobile money services for increased level of financial inclusion. The governments in developing countries where mobile money has greatly spurred financial inclusion should not only reduce the existing transaction taxes on mobile money services but scrap it off in order to champion progressive increase in the level of universal financial inclusion prescribed as a key enabler in eliminating global poverty, especially in developing countries. Originality/value This study hints on the moderating effect of transaction tax exemptions in the relationship between mobile money adoption and usage and financial inclusion. The paradox in the current trends on transaction taxes on mobile money services, especially in developing countries remain a dearth in the nascent global FINTECH ecosystem.

Trust: mediator between mobile money adoption and usage and financial inclusion

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. 1215-1237
Author(s):  
George Okello Candiya Bongomin ◽  
Joseph Ntayi
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Mobile Network ◽  
Mobile Telephone ◽  
Partial Least Square ◽  
Financial Inclusion ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mobile Money ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose Recently, a large body of research has been devoted on the role of trust in shaping different types of transactions, especially in rural financial development. Trust is a set of expectations shared by all those who engage in an exchange. Indeed, the “rule of the game” suggests that no trusting party in a transaction should act opportunistically. Consequently, this study aims to establish the mediating effect of trust in the relationship between mobile money adoption and usage and financial inclusion of MSMEs in developing countries with a specific focus on rural Uganda. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative survey-based study was used and responses obtained from 379 MSMEs located in northern Uganda were analysed using partial least square-PLS version 3.0. A semi-structured questionnaire was developed from scales and items used in previous studies referenced in internationally recognised journals to elicit responses from the MSMEs. Structural equation modelling was used to test the models to arrive at a final empirical model derived from the data. Findings The authors found evidence that trust enhances mobile money adoption and usage to increase the scope of financial inclusion of MSMEs in developing countries. Moreover, when individual effect was determined, trust also had significant and positive effect on financial inclusion. Thus, the study results imply that trust enhances mobile money adoption and usage to improve the level of financial inclusion of MSMEs in developing countries. Research limitations/implications The study used cross-sectional data to document the relationship between mobile money adoption and usage and financial inclusion and to establish the mediating effect of trust in the relationship. Future research could use relevant longitudinal data to verify other benefits of trust. Practical implications The results present trust as a significant factor for FINTECH financial services marketing and growth. Specifically, data privacy and effectiveness of the mobile telephone network is more likely to help consumers to bridge the gap between participation and non-participation on the mobile money platform. Customers’ data sent over the mobile network of providers should be protected from unnecessary access and usage by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) staff and unauthorised persons and agents. Data protection protocols should be set by the MNOs to avoid unnecessary access and use of customers’ data. Originality/value Globally, Fintech scholars have examined the role of mobile money in promoting financial inclusion. However, there is insufficient evidence on the mediating effect of trust in the relationship between mobile money adoption and usage and financial inclusion, especially among rural MSMEs. This study invents a novel direction on the importance of trust in creating transaction efficiency by eliminating opportunism and fraud with in the Fintech ecosystem.

Mobile money adoption and usage and financial inclusion: mediating effect of digital consumer protection

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 157-176
Author(s):  
George Okello Candiya Bongomin ◽  
Joseph Mpeera Ntayi
Keyword(s):  
Consumer Protection ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Partial Least Square ◽  
Financial Inclusion ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mobile Money ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose Drawing from the argument that mobile money services have a significant potential to provide a wide range of affordable, convenient and secure financial services, there have been rampant frauds on consumers of financial products over the digital financial platform. Thus, this study aims to establish the mediating effect of digital consumer protection in the relationship between mobile money adoption and usage and financial inclusion with data collected from micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in northern Uganda. Design/methodology/approach To achieve the main objective of this study, a research model was developed to test for the mediating effect of digital consumer protection in the relationship between mobile money adoption and usage and financial inclusion. The data were collected from MSMEs and structural equation modelling in partial least square (PLS) combined with bootstrap was applied to analyze and test the hypotheses of this study. The direct and indirect effect of mobile money adoption and usage on financial inclusion was tested through digital consumer protection as a mediator variable. Findings The findings from the PLS-structural equation modelling (SEM) showed that mobile money adoption and usage has both direct and indirect effect on financial inclusion. Moreover, financial inclusion is influenced by both mobile money adoption and usage and digital consumer protection. Research limitations/implications The study used partial least square (PLS-SEM) combined with bootstrap confidence intervals through a formative approach to establish the mediating effect of the mediator variable. Hence, it ignored the use of covariance-based SEM and the MedGraph programme. Furthermore, data were collected from samples located in Gulu district, northern Uganda and specifically from MSMEs. This limits generalization of the study findings to other population who also use mobile money services. Practical implications Promoters of digital financial services, managers of telecommunication companies, and financial inclusion advocates should consider strengthening the existing digital consumer protection laws on the mobile money platform. A collaborative approach between the mobile network operators, financial institutions and regulators should tighten the existing laws against mobile money fraudsters and an efficient mechanism for recourse, compensation and remedy should be set up to benefit the victims of frauds and cybercrime on the Fintech ecosystem. Originality/value The current study gives a useful insight into the critical mediating role of digital consumer protection as a cushion for promoting financial inclusion through mobile phones over the Fintech that face great threat and risk from cyber insecurity.

Analyzing the relationship between financial literacy and financial inclusion by microfinance banks in developing countries: social network theoretical approach

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (11/12) ◽  
pp. 1257-1277
Author(s):  
George Okello Candiya Bongomin ◽  
Joseph Mpeera Ntayi ◽  
Charles Akol Malinga
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Research Design ◽  
Financial Literacy ◽  
Financial Inclusion ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Poor ◽  
The Relationship

PurposeThe main purpose of this study is to establish the mediating effect of social network in the relationship between financial literacy and financial inclusion of the poor by microfinance banks in developing countries.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted a cross-sectional research design and data were collected from the poor who resides in rural Uganda. Structural equation modelling (SEM) through analysis of moment structures (AMOS) was used to analyze the data. Bootstrap approach with 5,000 samples was run to establish the mediating effect of social network in the relationship between financial literacy and financial inclusion of the poor by microfinance banks in developing countries.FindingsThe results showed that social network significantly and positively mediate the relationship between financial literacy and financial inclusion of the poor by microfinance banks in developing countries. In addition, financial literacy also has a direct significant and positive effect on financial inclusion. Overall, the findings suggest that the presence of social network fully mediate the effect of financial literacy on financial inclusion of the poor by microfinance banks in developing countries.Research limitations/implicationsThis study adopted a cross-sectional research design and data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Future studies could adopt longitudinal research design to establish the dynamic characteristics of the samples under study over time. Besides, this study collected data from only poor households who were clients of microfinance banks located in rural Uganda. It ignored the other section of the population who were not the poor. Therefore, future studies could use the other section of the population who are clients of commercial banks.Practical implicationsThe advocates of financial literacy and managers of microfinance banks in developing countries should ensure using existing local structures such as community and village associations to conduct financial literacy training. The village associations help in mobilizing members who are close-knit based on the existing societal ties that can be used as a channel for disseminating vital financial literacy information. Indeed, financial literacy workshops, seminars, and business clinics can be easily conducted to individuals who are members of the village associations.Originality/valueThis paper integrates social network theory in the relationship between financial literacy and financial inclusion of the poor by microfinance banks in developing countries. Social network acts as a conduit through which financial knowledge and skills flow to increase the scope of financial inclusion of the poor in developing countries.

Reimaging the mobile money ecosystem and financial inclusion of MSMEs in Uganda: Hedonic motivation as mediator

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
George Okello Candiya Bongomin ◽  
Francis Yosa ◽  
Joseph Mpeera Ntayi
Keyword(s):  
Financial Services ◽  
Mobile Telephone ◽  
Financial Inclusion ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mobile Money ◽  
Measurement Models ◽  
User Friendly ◽  
The Relationship

PurposeMobile money is a service in which the mobile phone is used to access financial services. Thus, the mobile money platform should be user-friendly with hedonic features that are attractive and pleasurable to the users. The main purpose of this paper is to establish the mediating effect of hedonism in the relationship between mobile money adoption and usage and financial inclusion of micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Uganda.Design/methodology/approachThis study reports interesting findings by using data obtained from MSMEs located in northern Uganda. The structural equation and measurement models were generated in analysis of moment structures (AMOS) to answer the hypotheses of this study.FindingsThe findings suggest that including hedonism in the model improves mobile money adoption and usage by 12.7 percentage points in order to promote financial inclusion of MSMEs in Uganda. Hedonism is found to affect mobile money adoption and usage, which in turn influences financial inclusion.Research limitations/implicationsThis study used cross-sectional data to document the mediating effect of hedonism in the relationship between mobile money adoption and usage and financial inclusion. The study analyzed mobile money adoption and usage, hedonism, and financial inclusion from the MSMEs owners' perspective. Future research could use relevant longitudinal data to verify multiple benefits of hedonism in enhancing mobile money adoption and usage as well as other potential digital financial technologies.Practical implicationsThis study categorically informs mobile telephone network operators and inventors of mobile money applications to invest more in developing pleasurable and user-friendly mobile money features that can attract more users. The digital financial services' application developers should design user-friendly mobile money applications that suit the needs of all users. This requires careful understanding of diverse attractive features of mobile money services.Originality/valueThis study offers direction to developers of mobile money applications to design pleasurable and user-friendly mobile money platform with features, which are attractive to the different users. Particularly, it highlights the role of hedonic motivation in promoting adoption and use of mobile money technology to increase the scope of financial inclusion of MSMEs in a developing country like Uganda. Indeed, the novelty in this paper is grounded on a blend of financial technology and psychology to promote financial inclusion in under developed economies.

scholarly journals Corporate debt maturity and economic development

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 669-687 ◽  
Author(s):  
Celia Álvarez-Botas ◽  
Víctor M. González-Méndez
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Economic Development ◽  
Financial Crisis ◽  
Firm Size ◽  
Debt Maturity ◽  
Corporate Debt ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Country Level ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Bank Concentration

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse the effect of economic development on the influence of country-level determinants on corporate debt maturity, bearing in mind firm size and the period of financial crisis. Design/methodology/approach The authors employ panel data estimation with fixed effects to examine the role of economic development in influencing the relationship between country-level determinants on corporate debt maturity. The paper uses a sample of 30,727 listed firms, belonging to 39 countries, over the period 2005–2012. Findings Corporate debt maturity increases with the efficiency of the legal system and bank concentration and decreases with the weight of banks in the economy. However, the importance of these country determinants is greater in developing than in developed countries. The authors also show that firm size in developed and developing countries influences country determinants of corporate debt maturity. Finally, the results reveal that the financial crisis has affected the debt maturity of firms differently in developed and developing countries, with the effect of bank concentration lengthening debt maturity, this effect being more pronounced in developing countries. Practical implications The findings provide useful insights to guide policy decisions providing access to long-term financing, as corporate debt maturity depends on economic development, institutional environment, banking structure and firm size. Originality/value This study incorporates economic development in explaining the relationship between country-level determinants and corporate debt maturity.

How does renqing influence purchase intentions in the Chinese business-to-business context?

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xun Zhang ◽  
Biao Xu ◽  
Jun Wu
Keyword(s):  
Positive Relationship ◽  
Purchase Intentions ◽  
Moderating Effect ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Chinese Business ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Business To Business ◽  
Positive Effect

Purpose This study aims to examine the relationship between renqing and purchase intentions and the mechanism of its impact in the Chinese business-to-business (B2B) context. Design/methodology/approach Renqing in China has played an important role in business relationships and has been receiving increased attention in both practice and theory. However, little is known about whether it can influence purchase intentions in a rational B2B condition. This research aims to examine the relationship between renqing and purchase intentions and the mechanism of its impact in the Chinese B2B context. Based on a survey of 1,010 industry buyers from 468 Chinese downstream buyer companies, the empirical findings indicate a positive relationship between renqing and purchase intentions and the mediating role of long-term orientation (LTO) for increasing purchase intentions. In addition, this study also finds that product involvement (PI) has a negative moderating effect on the relationship between renqing and purchase intentions, which means that renqing has a big positive effect on purchase intentions in low PI conditions. The results highlight several implications for B2B companies that sell products to Chinese enterprises. Findings The empirical findings indicate a positive relationship between renqing and purchase intentions and the mediating role of LTO for increasing purchase intentions. In addition, this study also finds that PI has a negative moderating effect on the relationship between renqing and purchase intentions, which means that renqing has a big positive effect on purchase intentions in low PI conditions. Originality/value First of all, by answering the research question, this study shows that renqing has a positive effect on purchase intentions in Chinese B2B context. Second, this study elucidates the influence mechanism of renqing on purchase intention and identifies the mediating effect of LTO and the moderating effect of PI.

Audit committee characteristics and the moderating effect of Malaysian code of corporate governance on IPO liquidity

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amal Mohammed Al-Masawa ◽  
Rasidah Mohd-Rashid ◽  
Hamdan Amer Al-Jaifi ◽  
Shaker Dahan Al-Duais
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Initial Public Offerings ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Moderating Effect ◽  
Least Squares Regression ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Code Of Corporate Governance ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose This study aims to investigate the link between audit committee characteristics and the liquidity of initial public offerings (IPOs) in Malaysia, which is an emerging economy in Southeast Asia. Another purpose of this study is to examine the moderating effect of the revised Malaysian code of corporate governance (MCCG) on the link between audit committee characteristics and IPO liquidity. Design/methodology/approach The final sample consists of 304 Malaysian IPOs listed in 2002–2017. This study uses ordinary least squares regression method to analyse the data. To confirm this study’s findings, a hierarchical or four-stage regression analysis is used to compare the t-values of the main and moderate regression models. Findings The findings show that audit committee characteristics (size and director independence) have a positive and significant relationship with IPO liquidity. Also, the revised MCCG positively moderates the relationship between audit committee characteristics and IPO liquidity. Research limitations/implications This study’s findings indicate that companies with higher audit committee independence have a more effective monitoring mechanism that mitigates information asymmetry, thus reducing adverse selection issues during share trading. Practical implications Policymakers could use the results of this study in developing policies for IPO liquidity improvements. Additionally, the findings are useful for traders and investors in their investment decision-making. For companies, the findings highlight the crucial role of the audit committee as part of the control system that monitors corporate governance. Originality/value To the authors’ knowledge, this work is a pioneering study in the context of a developing country, specifically Malaysia that investigates the impact of audit committee characteristics on IPO liquidity. Previously, the link between corporate governance and IPO liquidity had not been investigated in Malaysia. This study also contributes to the IPO literature by providing empirical evidence regarding the moderating effect of the revised MCCG on the relationship between audit committee characteristics and IPO liquidity.

Strategic orientations, firm performance and the moderating effect of absorptive capacity

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel-Alejandro Ibarra-Cisneros ◽  
María del Rosario Demuner-Flores ◽  
Felipe Hernández-Perlines
Keyword(s):  
Firm Performance ◽  
Market Orientation ◽  
Absorptive Capacity ◽  
Entrepreneurial Orientation ◽  
Manufacturing Firms ◽  
Moderating Effect ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Strategic Orientations ◽  
The Relationship

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to study the moderating effect of absorptive capacity, defined as the set of organizational routines and processes through which companies acquire, assimilate, transform and exploit knowledge to produce a dynamic organizational capacity (Zahra and George, 2002), in three strategic orientations: market orientation; technology orientation and entrepreneurial orientation and their positive relationship in the performance of the medium and large Mexican manufacturing firms. Likewise, it is determined whether these three combined SOs influence firm performance.Design/methodology/approachThe data was collected from 171 medium and large-sized Mexican manufacturing firms. The proposed hypotheses are tested using partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).FindingsDespite the importance of knowledge for the development of firms, the results indicate that the moderating effect of absorptive capacity is only present in the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and firm performance. That is, firms cannot take advantage of knowledge simultaneously between the three strategic orientations. For their part, market orientation and entrepreneurial orientation exert a positive influence on firm performance.Practical implicationsThe main practical implication for the manufacturing industry is that they must develop mechanisms to detect what kind of knowledge affects each strategic orientation, in this way it can make the absorptive capacity influence the relationships between SO and FP.Originality/valueThe main contribution consists of studying the moderating effect of the absorptive capacity on the relationship between three strategic orientations and firm performance, and not concentrating solely on the simultaneous use of these strategies as is commonly done.

Regional government R&D investment and innovation performance: the moderating effect of geographical and organizational proximities

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongyun Zhu ◽  
Bingfen Xu
Keyword(s):  
Moderating Effect ◽  
Innovation Performance ◽  
Regional Government ◽  
Multilevel Regression ◽  
Regional Innovation ◽  
Government Investment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Organizational Proximity ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
D Investment

Purpose This study aims to measure the moderating effect of geographical and organizational proximity by focusing on readily available Chinese regional economic data over a five-year period. Design/methodology/approach The authors used multilevel regression analysis to analyze the relationship. Findings Results show that increasing government investment in research and development (R&D) can improve innovation performance during this period, organizational proximity and geographic proximity have a positive moderate effect on the relationship between R&D investment and Innovation performance. Originality/value This study enriches the existing theories on government innovation input and output from the perspective of regional differences and provides meaningful guidance for current Chinese regional innovation policies.

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