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...

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...

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...

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 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 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 study examines the impact of financial inclusion on income inequality across 33 provinces in Indonesia from 2015 to 2023, while controlling for human development and investment-related factors. Specifically, it investigates the effects of the Financial Inclusion Index (FII), Human...

This article investigates whether increasing economic status through adopting digital payment capabilities in Delhi fosters economic and financial inclusion among urban women street vendors in Mahila Haat. Digital freedom is a new step forward in technology for everyone. Still, a woman not only...

Background: Fintech companies have revolutionized the financial services industry in India in recent years. This is especially true for the growth of digital payment methods. India's unbanked are being introduced to banking by fintech companies. Despite the country's strong banking system, many...

Using a sample of 67 countries, this article examines how financial inclusion, among other factors, shapes the transition to inclusive and sustainable growth. First, we analyze the heterogeneous and asymmetric relationship between inclusiveness and its main determinants using recent panel...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Using a sample of 67 countries, this article examines how financial inclusion, among other factors, shapes the transition to inclusive and sustainable growth. First, we analyze the heterogeneous and asymmetric relationship between inclusiveness and its main determinants using recent panel...

This study investigates the determinants of FinTech adoption and its role in supporting financial inclusion among micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in South Sumatra, Indonesia. The analysis applies an extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) framework that...

While prior research emphasizes the socio-economic benefits of financial inclusion, its implications for bank profitability remain underexplored. This paper employs seven traditional and four digital in- dicators to create a financial inclusion index through principal component analysis (PCA)....

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...

This study analyses income dynamics and economic vulnerability in the Republic of Moldova between 2019 and 2023, using data on income and expenditures from the Household Budget Survey conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics. The findings reveal significant socio-demographic disparities,...

Access to finance and equal economic opportunities are crucial for female entrepreneurs, fostering business growth and economic participation. Drawing on interviews with key stakeholders involved in the legal reform processes, this Brief examines how Sierra Leone made strides in its reform...

Financial inclusion is an important enabler of economic development and aligns with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In most sub-Saharan African countries, financial inclusion efforts take place in the presence of concentrated and bank-dominated systems. This study...

The objective is to present a proposal for a gender-sensitive risk analysis model using artifcial intelligence (AI) within the framework of complex thinking that pro‑ vides access to opportunities, specifcally for vulnerable populations such as women from underprivileged sections. This...

Most countries in Latin America and the Caribbean are implementing fast payment systems (FPS), often with the goal of enhancing access to and use of affordable financial services. FPS offer immediate transfer of funds on a 24x7 basis between end users. This paper assesses how FPS can promote...