Finance

While digital credit broadens market access and reduces frictions in developing countries, default rates are often high. In Mexico, reducing loan speed—by doubling delivery time—decreased the likelihood of default significantly. Such waiting periods ...

How are Zambians utilising mobile money? What effect does mobile money have on rural poverty? Could tax changes slow mobile money growth?

Research shows that microfinance clients use credit and savings as commitment devices to accumulate lump sums. Evidence from Pakistan suggests high demand for fixed-repayment contracts, but low demand for commitment add-ons in both credit and savings...

Fintech has the potential to enhance financial inclusion and welfare for low-income migrants, but its benefits may be limited for migrants with lower financial literacy.

Mobile connectivity improves access to land, enabling individuals to use land titles as collateral for bank credit and invest in construction.

Evidence from a range of contexts has shown that while microfinance does not have transformative impacts on lifting people out of poverty, it can greatly benefit specific borrowers such as experienced entrepreneurs.

Flexible financing for ‘last-mile’ distributors boosted profits across a food supply chain in Kenya.