Artikel

Mobile money is driving financial development in Africa

Mobile money is an innovation that allows financial transactions to be performed via a cell phone. Even in poor regions of Africa, almost everyone has a cell phone; therefore, mobile money could both contribute to the continent's economic growth and ensure that no Africans are excluded from access to financial services. However, DIW Berlin data from Uganda show that mobile money is actually used less frequently than the number of mobile money accounts suggests. Nevertheless, demand for financial services has increased by 20 percentage points since the introduction of mobile money. At the same time, a fourth of the population-the poorest, in particular-remain financially excluded. In addition to high costs, this is mainly due to the insufficient availability of mobile money in rural areas and a lack of financial literacy. Consequently, to increase the use of mobile money and thus promote economic development in Africa, an appropriate competition policy, requirements for an enhanced network coverage, and financial literacy trainings are necessary.

Sprache
Englisch

Erschienen in
Journal: DIW Weekly Report ; ISSN: 2568-7697 ; Volume: 10 ; Year: 2020 ; Issue: 21/22 ; Pages: 253-259 ; Berlin: Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW)

Klassifikation
Wirtschaft
Banks; Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
Economic Development: Financial Markets; Saving and Capital Investment; Corporate Finance and Governance
Thema
mobile money
financial development
financial inclusion
consumer protection

Ereignis
Geistige Schöpfung
(wer)
Lehmann-Uschner, Katharina
Menkhoff, Lukas
Ereignis
Veröffentlichung
(wer)
Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW)
(wo)
Berlin
(wann)
2020

DOI
doi:10.18723/diw_dwr:2020-21-1
Handle
Letzte Aktualisierung
10.03.2025, 11:43 MEZ

Datenpartner

Dieses Objekt wird bereitgestellt von:
ZBW - Deutsche Zentralbibliothek für Wirtschaftswissenschaften - Leibniz-Informationszentrum Wirtschaft. Bei Fragen zum Objekt wenden Sie sich bitte an den Datenpartner.

Objekttyp

  • Artikel

Beteiligte

  • Lehmann-Uschner, Katharina
  • Menkhoff, Lukas
  • Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW)

Entstanden

  • 2020

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