This paper marshals substantial arguments and data to support the contention that improving the access of micro and small enterprises to financial services could have an important salutary impact on a country's income distribution. To demonstrate this, the paper shows first that many poor own or...

This paper presents a synopsis of the current state of the microfinance industry in Latin America. It provides a rough assessment of the achievement and outreach of the industry; it offers revealing information on the financial performance of 20 microfinance institutions; and it outlines some of...

This paper examines the role of rewards-based and equity-based crowdfunding in funding new businesses. In this model, crowdfunding is a unique technology that serves as a real option for production and eliminates downside risk. It affords entrepreneurs who face uncertain consumer demand a viable...

This paper argues that the level of financial services provision determines the risk management strategies among the poor. The paper estimates the determinants of the household's use of one, two or all three types of microfinancial services applying ordered probit models and additionally probit...

This discussion paper is the third in the Financial Markets Department's series on the structure of Canadian financial markets. These papers are called "ecologies" because they study the interactions among market participants, infrastructures, regulations and the terms of the traded contract...

The entry of Big Tech firms in the financial ecosystem might affect financial stability through the opportunities and challenges they create for financial inclusion. In this paper we survey the literature to determine the effectiveness of financial education in improving financial literacy and...

Suggests that EU legislation has induced enormous changes in the structure of the European financial markets, and that financial institutions increasingly modify their strategies to cope with the new developments. Identifies which type of corporate strategy enhances organizational efficiency....

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explain the risk of bad mutual fund data for a financial services firm that sells mutual funds and to recommend steps a firm can take to ensure the reliability of its mutual fund data. Design/methodology/approach – Explains problems caused by missing...