The impact of saving with mobile money transfer technology on the livelihoods of rural wage-earning women: a case study in Maragua District, Kenya.

Masters in Development Studies. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College 2015.Information and communication technologies have been shown to potentially aid in leveraging financial inclusion among low-income groups. This study investigates whether mobile money transfer technologies can be utilised by women in an empowering way within rural agricultural settings. Through a case study focusing on rural women in the agricultural Kenyan context, the research explores whether the savings mechanism offered by mobile money transfer technologies is being utilised. Guided by a qualitative research approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 28 purposively selected women in the Gakoigo sub-location in the Maragua district, of Central Province, Kenya, some of whom used mobile money transfer technologies and others who did not. The Choice Framework was applied to the findings gathered in order to provide an in-depth and holistic understanding of how mobile money transfer technologies provided women engaged in rural wage labour access to new financial options. The findings show that some of the choices made by these women, including the usage of both formal and informal savings, complements their current financial practice, as well as the achievements attained as a result this choice. The study finds that although mobile money transfer technologies do benefit women who make use of mobile savings, pre-existing policies have formed structures within institutions and organisations which do not cater for the needs of rural women. For this reason, these policies prevent women whose livelihoods depend on the agricultural sector from exerting their full potential to use mobile phones as a saving tool. Informal methods of saving, such as Rotating Service and Credit Associations therefore continue to be used as a preferred method of saving amongst these rural Kenyan women

Evaluation and Classification of Mobile Financial Services Sustainability Using Structural Equation Modeling and Multiple Criteria Decision-Making Methods

Despite the fast emergent of smartphones in day-to-day activity, the sustainable development of mobile financial services (MFS) remains low partially due to online consumer’s trust and perceived risk. This research broadens the trust and the perceived risk at the multi-dimensional for understanding and prioritizing alternatives of MFS decision. A combined methodology; structural equation modeling (SEM) with two multiple criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods such as a technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) were applied for data analysis. The two steps SEM-TOPSIS techniques were adopted through a two-types survey on datasets consisting of 538 MFS users, and 74 both experienced MFS users and experts in Togo. The SEM is used for causal relationships and assigning weights for the TOPSIS input. TOPSIS was applied for providing MFS alternative classification, in which the results were compared with prior research using the SEM-AHP technique on the given population. The results via SEM revealed particularly strong support for the dispositional trust and perceived privacy risk. Trust has a negative relationship with perceived risk. Except for perceived time risk, all the antecedents of perceived risk and trust validated the proposed relationship. The findings of TOPSIS uncovered that mobile money transfer (MMT) remains the core application used, followed by mobile payment (MP) and mobile banking (MB) and, therefore, consistent with AHP. However, the TOPSIS technique is better suited to the problem of MFS selection for this study field. This research offers a novel and practical modeling and classification concept for researchers, companies’ managers, and experts in the areas of information technology. The implications, limitations, and future research are provided

E-Payment System and Financial Performance of Telecom Companies in Rwanda: Case Study of MTN Rwanda MOMO Service

The purpose of the study was to investigate the impact of e-payment system and financial performance of telecommunication companies and the study carried out in MTN Rwanda, MOMO service. E-payment system as independent variable and financial performance as dependent variable. This study has the following specific objectives: To examine the money transfer services on financial performance of MTN Rwanda; to evaluate the financial key performance indicators of MTN Rwanda; to investigate the e-payment services on the financial performance of MTN Rwanda; to assess the role of mobile banking on financial performance of MTN Rwanda between 2016 and 2019; and to establish the relationship between e-payment system and financial performance. The study shows findings shows that 31 (53.4%) of Respondents strongly agreed that sending and receiving money between two subscribers of MOMO service highly affect profitability Ratio of MTN Rwanda. It Indicates that 26 (44.8%) of Respondents strongly agreed that buying airtime with MOMO service affect an increase in Sales volume of MTN Rwanda. It indicates that 27 (46.6%) of Respondents strongly agreed that paying TV with MOMO service positively affect long term investment of MTN Rwanda. It indicates that 32 (55.2%) of Respondents strongly agreed that depositing and withdrawing money on bank account with MOMO service highly affect profitability Ratio. The findings prove that there is a positive correlation between money transfer services and long term investment (p=.774 and sig=.000); between payment and profitability (p=.972 and sig=.000); between mobile banking services and improved sales volume (p=.866and sig=.000); between money transfer services and payment services (p=.785 and sig=.000); between payment service and mobile banking services (p=.781 and sig=.000); long term investment and profitability (p=.986 and sig=.000). Hence, the results indicate that e-payment systems have a positive and significant relationship with financial performance of MTN Rwanda MOMO services. Keywords: E-payment, Money transfer, Mobile banking, Mobile money, financial performance DOI: 10.7176/JESD/11-16-18 Publication date:August 31st 202

Competition Law and Economic Regulation

Shaping markets through competition and economic regulation is at the heart of addressing the development challenges facing countries in southern Africa. The contributors to 'Competition Law And Economic Regulation: Addressing Market Power In Southern Africa' critically assess the efficacy of the competition and economic regulation frameworks, including the impact of a number of the regional competition authorities in a range of sectors throughout southern Africa. Featuring academics as well as practitioners in the field, the book addresses issues common to southern African countries, where markets are small and concentrated, with particularly high barriers to entry, and where the resources to enforce legislation against anti-competitive conduct are limited. What is needed, the contributors argue, is an understanding of competition and regional integration as part of an inclusive growth agenda for Africa. By examining competition and regulation in a single framework, and viewing this within the southern African experience, this volume adds new perspectives to the global competition literature. It is an essential reference tool and will be of great interest to policymakers and regulators, as well as the rapidly growing ecosystem of legal practitioners and economists engaged in the field

Cryptocurrencies as an Alternative to Fiat Monetary Systems

The recent popularity of cryptocurrencies is largely associated with a particular application referred to as Bitcoin. Cryptocurrency has a mix of properties that make it difficult to examine. These properties consist of being infinitely divisible, durable, transferable, fungible and can be controlled to be artificially scarce. Further, cryptocurrencies can act as a means of payment, a medium of exchange, a store of value, and a unit of account. This thesis will analyze the technical features underlying cryptocurrencies and find out whether or not they can function as an alternative to fiat money. Since Bitcoin is the most commonly understood application I will examine it from two antithetical economic frameworks. Austrian monetary theory and Modern Monetary Theory have been selected to study because of their different views on the functions and origin of money. I will explore their interpretations of money to gain insight and make a general conclusion on whether or not Bitcoin could operate as an alternative to fiat money

Mobile Phone Use by Zimbabwean Smallholder Farmers: A Baseline Study

This article provides findings from a baseline study on mobile phone use by smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe. The study investigated use of mobile phones by 58 farming households in a village in Zimbabwe’s Midlands Province. Via a survey questionnaire and a focus group discussion, the study found that 100% of the surveyed households identified “asymmetry of information” as a challenge they face in their agricultural activities, and 90% cited “absence of market information” as a challenge. Yet at the same time, the study found low levels of household mobile phone usage, with only 50% of households were found to be using mobile telephony in support of a farming activity. The article concludes with a recommendation for how to close this apparent gap between the smallholder farmers’ felt need for increased agricultural information and, at the same time, their lack of use of mobile telephony to access such information.CA201

Understanding the factors of mobile payment continuance intention: empirical test in an African context

Franque, F. B., Oliveira, T., & Tam, C. (2021). Understanding the factors of mobile payment continuance intention: empirical test in an African context. Heliyon, 7(8), 1-12. [e07807]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07807Few studies have been conducted about individuals’ continuance to use m-payment, especially in an African context. This study investigates the continuance intention to use m-payment, employing two theoretical models: the DeLone and McLean information system (D&M IS) success model and the expectation-confirmation model (ECM) in an African context. We collected 338 questionnaires through an online survey to evaluate and validate the proposed theoretical model, using partial least squares – structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). Our results indicate that the most important predictors of continuance intention to use m-payment are individual performance, use, and satisfaction. The results present useful insight to understand continuance intentions toward mobile payment in an African context. The integration of D&M IS success model, and the ECM model is to allow us to understand the main factors affecting the continuance intention to use mobile payment in the African context. By combining these two models we show how to compensate for and complement the weaknesses and strengths of the models, solidifying our findings of continuance intention with a stronger model that is otherwise not possible.publishersversionpublishersversionpublishe

Bank accounts, bank concentration and mobile money innovations

The present study investigates how increasing bank accounts and bank concentration affect mobile money innovations in 148 countries. It builds on scholarly and policy concerns in the literature that increasing bank accounts may not be having the desired effects on financial inclusion on the one hand and on the other, that bank concentration which is a proxy for market power is a relevant mobile money innovation demand factor. The empirical evidence is based on Tobit regressions. From the findings, it is apparent that boosting bank accounts is positively related to the three mobile money innovations (i.e. mobile bank accounts and the mobile phone used to send money). Moreover, some critical levels of bank account penetration require complementary policies in order to maintain the positive relationship between boosting bank accounts and positive outcomes in terms of money mobile innovations. Conversely, financial inclusion in terms of the three mobile money innovations is not significantly apparent upon enhancing bank concentration. Policy implications are discussed in the light of the provided thresholds for complementary policies.Economic

Enablers, Barriers and Impacts of Digital Financial Services: Insights from an Evidence Gap Map and Implications for Taxation

Digital financial services (DFS) have expanded rapidly over the last decade, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. They have been accompanied by claims that they can alleviate poverty, empower women, help businesses grow, and improve macroeconomic outcomes and government effectiveness. As they have become more widespread, some controversy has arisen as governments have identified DFS revenues and profits as potential sources of tax revenue. Evidence-based policy in relation to taxing DFS requires an understanding of the enablers and barriers (preconditions) of DFS, as well as the impacts of DFS. This report aims to present insights from an Evidence Gap Map (EGM) on the enablers and barriers, and subsequent impacts, of DFS, including any research related to taxation. An EGM serves to clearly identify the gaps in the evidence base in a visually intuitive way, allowing researchers to address these gaps. This can help to shape future research agendas. Our EGM draws on elements from the systematic review methodology. We develop a transparent set of inclusion criteria and comprehensive search strategy to identify relevant studies, and assess the confidence we can place in their causal findings. An extensive search initially identified 389 studies, 205 of which met the inclusion criteria and were assessed based on criteria of cogency, transparency and credibility. We categorised 40 studies as high confidence, 97 as medium confidence, and 68 as low confidence. We find that the evidence base is still relatively thin, but growing rapidly. The high-confidence evidence base is dominated by quantitative approaches, especially experimental study designs. The geographical focus of many studies is East Africa. The dominant DFS intervention studied is mobile money. The majority of studies focus on DFS usage for payments and transfers; fewer studies focus on savings, very few on credit, and none on insurance. The strongest evidence base on enablers and barriers relates to how user attributes and industry structure affect DFS. Little is known about how policy and politics, including taxation, and macroeconomic and social factors, affect DFS. The evidence base on impacts is strongest at the individual and household level, and partly covers the business level. The impact of DFS on the macroeconomy, and the meso level of industry and government, is very limited. We find no high-confidence evidence on the role of taxation. We need more higher quality evidence on a variety of topics. This should particularly look at enablers, constraints and impacts, including the role of taxation, beyond the individual and household level. Research going forward should cover more geographic areas and a wider range of purposes DFS can serve (use cases), including savings, and particularly credit. More methodological variety should be encouraged – experiments can be useful, but are not the best method for all research questions