The rapid digitalization of financial services in the European Union (EU) has not only enhanced convenience and inclusion but also increased exposure to sophisticated online financial fraud. Digital financial literacy (DFL) is widely promoted as a key tool for empowering consumers and reducing...

This paper presents a systematic review of Tunisian stakeholders' perceptions of integrating gender into green microfinance business models, analyzed through the lens of the Business Model Canvas (BMC). This systematic review of 32 studies indicates a dual perception of women as both vulnerable...

This Focus Note explores innovative financing strategies for reaching inclusive credit fintechs in Africa, particularly those targeting underserved micro and small enterprises (MSEs). These fintechs have the potential to address the estimated US$ 4.9 trillion global credit gap for MSEs. However,...

This Focus Note explores why this remains the case— even after significant efforts to narrow the financial inclusion gender gap—and what can be done to achieve equality in this sphere. Since closing the gap will require contextually adapted solutions, Ghana and Tanzania were selected as two...

This Focus Note includes illustrative examples from successful initiatives around the world that demonstrate the potential of these strategies—from digital financial solutions that respect privacy concerns to data-driven approaches that challenge institutional biases. Development actors,...

Systemic crises pose pressing threats and jeopardize economic growth and prosperity. These recurrent events disproportionately affect vulnerable households as well as micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSME), all of whose limited financial assets and restricted access to finance...

This paper examines how digital financial platform engagement influences financial inclusion in the Philippines and explores how financial institutions are deploying artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing these platforms. It combines nationally representative data from the World Bank Global...

Purpose - This study examines Salvadorans' perceptions of the Bitcoin Law, which made Bitcoin legal tender on September 7, 2021. Design/methodology/approach - We administer a survey in El Salvador and analyze the data using, among other methods, OLS regressions, ordered logit and ordered probit...

Economic benefits of financial inclusion, meaning a broadening access of the population to financial services, have been studied extensively, but less is known about its potential effects on financial stability. We explore the complementarity between credit booms and episodes of rapid expansion...

We estimate consumer preferences for "Buy Now, Pay Later" (BNPL) using a large-scale probabilistic stated choice survey experiment. Average willingness to pay (WTP) for the standard BNPL bundle is negative, but younger, lower-income, and less credit-worthy consumers exhibit higher demand. The...

This paper examines the impact of fintech adoption and financial inclusion on financial stability in selected countries. Using panel data from 30 countries spanning 2011-2024, the study employs an empirical strategy based on Two-Way Fixed Effects, a dynamic two-step System GMM estimator, and...

Financial technology (FT) has been credited for supporting sustainable development and financial inclusion. However, issues such as balancing innovation with consumer protection and the challenges of loan default have emerged as significant concerns in this context. The study aimed to test the...

The goal of inclusive development places financial inclusion at the forefront of sovereign development policies, particularly in economies that are investing in digital technologies. Despite the world's progression towards technology, there is minimal empirical evidence of how efficient these...

This study investigates how financial technology (FinTech) contributes to economic growth, focusing on whether it acts primarily as a mediator or a moderator within the finance-growth nexus. A composite FinTech index is constructed using Principal Component Analysis based on cross-country data...

This study evaluates the early impact of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) on key financial indicators in The Bahamas, focusing on the introduction of the SandDollar-the world's first fully implemented retail CBDC. Using the Synthetic Control Method (SCM), the analysis constructs...

This paper examines the interplay between financial inclusion and FinTech in shaping banking stability, with a focus on economies in the Asia and Pacific region. Using an unbalanced panel dataset from 21 economies from 2000 to 2021, the paper finds that financial inclusion enhances banking...

This study examines the impact of financial inclusion on bank stability across 36 emerging economies, utilizing bank-level data from over 1,500 commercial banks spanning the period 2004 to 2023. Despite the recognized benefits of financial inclusion, its influence on banking stability remains...

As financial globalization continues to evolve, it has played a pivotal role in the development of financial sectors in developing countries, enhancing efficiency and fostering competition. However, this trend has also raised concerns regarding its socio-economic impacts, particularly in...

This research examines the role of the financial sector in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by promoting access to financial services and leveraging Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Utilizing the k-means++ algorithm, we clustered 41 European countries based on...

The explosive growth of financial technology (Fintech) has transformed the credit and equity markets, providing small businesses with unprecedented access to capital and driving financial inclusion. However, how this financial inclusion affects the effectiveness of capital allocation remains...

Despite the acknowledged importance of capital for start-up success, gender disparities persist when trying to raise funds from external sources, including angel investors, venture capitalists, and financial institutions. Many studies have shown that gender stereotypes are harmful and prevent...

We present a comprehensive meta-analysis of the determinants of financial inclusion, synthesizing 3,817 estimates from 102 studies published between 2013 and 2024. To reconcile divergent findings, we convert all results to a common unbiased metric-the partial correlation coefficient corrected...