DIGITAL FINANCIAL SERVICES, FINANCIAL INCLUSION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF SUB – SAHARAN AFRICA.

  • 0 Review(s)

Product Category: Projects

Product Code: 00007717

No of Pages: 241

No of Chapters: 1-5

File Format: Microsoft Word

Price :

₦5000

  • $

ABSTRACT

 

This study investigated the effect of digital financial services, financial inclusion and economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Economic development was proxied by human capital development index (HDI) while digital financial services was proxied by automated teller machine (ATM) volume transactions, point of sale volume of (POS) transactions, mobile banking service (MBS) volume transactions, number of ATMs available and number of commercial banks. Five SSA countries, namely, Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Cabo Verde and Kenya were chosen for the study. The data used for the study spanned from 2009 to 2020. The study was anchored on the Technology Acceptance Theory which is based on the belief that improvement in the economy is enhanced through using particular new technology and information system in business transactions. Panel unit root test carried out using different criteria showed that the data set were largely stationary at levels. Consequently, the fixed effects model was used for the analysis based on the outcome of the Hausman test. The results showed that the volume of ATM transactions Panel unit root test carried out using different criteria showed that the data set were largely stationary at levels. The results showed that the volume of ATM transactions and the number of ATMs had negative effect on HDI, implying that the higher the ATM usage and number of ATM available the lower economic development in SSA. The results of POS volume transactions, mobile banking volume transactions and number of commercial banks had increasing effect on economic development in SSA. Of all the independent variables, the volume of ATM transactions, POS transactions, mobile banking transactions and number of commercial banks were the most significant while number of ATM available was the only non-significant variable. The negative and significant effect of volume of ATM transactions, this study recommends that banks should ensure that ATMs provide convenience for customers by installing more of them and making them accessible and usable while also considering the rate charged for rendering such services.  Consequently, the study concluded that digital financial services is a long road which SSA needs to travel and make the economy significantly successful.






TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Cover page                                                                                                                              i

Title Page                                                                                                                                ii

Certification                                                                                                                           iii

Declaration                                                                                                                             iv

Dedication                                                                                                                              v

Acknowledgements                                                                                                                vi

Table of content                                                                                                                      vii

List of Tables                                                                                                                          viii

List of Figures                                                                                                                         ix

Abstract                                                                                                                                  x

 

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

1.1  Background of the Study                                                                                            1

1.2 Statement of the Problem                                                                                                 5

1.3 Objectives of the Study                                                                                                    6

1.4 Research Questions                                                                                                          7

1.5 Research Hypotheses                                                                                                        8

1.6 Scope of the Study                                                                                                            8

1.7 Significance of the Study                                                                                                 9

1.8 Limitations of the Study                                                                                                   11

 

CHAPTER 2: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

2.1 Conceptual Framework.                                                                                                   12

2.1.1 Concept of Digital Financial Services                                                                           12

2.1.2 Information On Selected SSA Countries' Digital Financial Services

and Financial Inclusion                                                                                              14

2.1.2.1 Nigeria                                                                                                                                    14

2.1.2.2 Ghana                                                                                                                          15

2.1.2.3 Kenya                                                                                                                          15

2.1.2.4   Uganda                                                                                                                      17

2.1.2.5 Cabo Verde                                                                                                                 18

2.1.3 Digital Financial Services                                                                                             19

2.1.4    Digital Financial Services Channels                                                                          19

2.1.4.1 Automated Teller Machine (ATM)                                                                            20

2.1.4.2 Mobile Banking Services                                                                                           21

2.1.4.3 Point of Sale. (POS)                                                                                                    23

2.1.4.4 Short Message Service (SMS Banking)                                                                     24

2.1.4.5 Internet Banking Service                                                                                            24

2.1.4.6 Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD)                                                  25

2.1.4.7 Digital Payment System                                                                                             25

2.1.5 The World Development Report Identifies Innovations in Digital Payments.                    27

2.1.6 How Does Digital Payments Work?                                                                             28

2.1.7 Merits of Digital Payments.                                                                                           28

2.1.8 Demerits of Digital Payments                                                                                       29

2.1.9 Electronic Banking System                                                                                           30

2.1.10 Positive Relationship Between Digital Finance and Financial Inclusion                     41

2.1.11 Negative Effect Between Digital Finance and Financial Inclusion.                                    42

2.1.12 The Pandemic and Digital Financial Services                                                             43

2.1.13  Impact of Covid -19 Pandemic on Digital Financial Inclusion.                               45

2.1.14 Overview of Digital Financial Inclusion                                                                     46

2.1.16  The Role of Digital Financial Inclusion in Meeting the Sustainable

Development Goals (SDGS)                                                                                       49

2.1.17 Financial Inclusion                                                                                                      49

2.1.18 Financial Inclusion Determinants                                                                               57

2.1.19  Promoting Financial Inclusion                                                                                   59

2.1.20 Components of Financial Inclusion                                                                             60

2.1.21 Hierarchy of Financial Needs Satisfaction Demonstrating Improved Financial

Inclusion with Higher Degree of Inclusion                                                                61

2.1.22 Benefits of Financial Inclusion                                                                                    63

2.1.23 Contributions of Microfinance Banks (MFB) To Financial Inclusion                     65

2.1.24 Poverty and Financial Inclusion                                                                                  69

2.1.25 Financial Inclusion and Unemployment                                                                     69

2.1.26 How New Technologies Create a Pathway to Financial Inclusion                                    70

2.1.27 Financial Inclusion Solves Societal Challenges                                                          71

2.1.28 Financial Inclusion and Bank Stability                                                                       72

2.1.29 Financial Inclusion and Digital Finance Services                                                       73

2.1.30 Financial Inclusion and Economic Growth                                                                 74

2.1.31 The Relationship Between Financial Inclusion and Economic Development              75

2.1.32 The Concept of Economic Growth and Development                                                76

2.1.33 The Relationship Between Financial Inclusion and Human Development              79

2.1.34 Financial Inclusion and Human Development                                                            82

2.1.35 Economic Development                                                                                              85

2.1.36  Review of Some Selected Economic Development Variables                                    86

2.1.38 Human Development                                                                                                  92

2.2 Theoretical Review                                                                                                          95

2.2.1 Technology Acceptance Theory                                                                                    95

2.2.2 Diffusion of Innovation Theory                                                                                    95

2.2.3 Financial Intermediation Theory                                                                                   96

2.2.4 Theory of Financial Innovations                                                                                   96

2.2.5 Bank-Led Theory                                                                                                          97

2.3 Empirical Review                                                                                                             98

2.4 Gap in Literature                                                                                                              149

 

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY

3. 1 Research Design                                                                                                              152

3.2 Nature and Sources of Data                                                                                              152

3.3 Model Specification                                                                                                         153

3.4 Description and Justification of Model Variables                                                            155

3.4.1 Dependent Variable                                                                                                       155

3.4.2 Independent Variables                                                                                                   155

3.4.3 Operationalization of Variables                                                                                    157

3.5 Target Population                                                                                                             158

3.6 Sample Size                                                                                                                      158

3.7 Techniques of Data Analysis                                                                                            158

3.7.1 Trend Analysis                                                                                                               158

3.7.2 Descriptive Statistics                                                                                                     159

3.7.3 Stationarity Tests                                                                                                           159

3.7.4 Multicollinearity Test                                                                                                    160

3.7.5 Fixed Effects (FE) and Random Effects (RE) Models                                                  160

3.7.6 Hausman Test                                                                                                                162

 

CHAPTER 4: PRESENTATION OF DATA, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSIONS

4.1 Presentation of Data                                                                                                         163

4.2 Trend Analysis of Data                                                                                                     166

4.2.1 Trend of Human Capital Development Index (Hdi) Among Selected Countries

of SSA                                                                                                                         166

4.2.2 Trend of Volume of Automated Teller Machine (ATM) among Selected

Countries of SSA                                                                                                        167

4.2.3 Trend of POS in SSA Countries Among Selected Countries of SSA.

4.2.4 Trend of Volume of Mobile Transactions (MBS) Among Selected Countries of SSA.169

4.2.5 Trend of Number of Automated Teller Machines Per 100,000 Adults (NATM)

among Selected Countries of SSA                                                                              170

4.2.6 Trend of Number of Number of Micro Finance Bank Per 100,000 Adults (NCOB)

among Selected Countries of SSA                                                                              171

4.3 Descriptive Statistics                                                                                                        171

4.4 Pre-Estimation Tests                                                                                                         173

4.4.1 Unit Root Test                                                                                                               173

4.4.2 Correlation Analysis and Multicollinearity Test                                                           175

4.5 Panel Regression Estimation                                                                                            176

4.5.1 Pooled Model                                                                                                                 176

4.5.2 Fixed Effects Model                                                                                                      178

4.5.3 Random Effects                                                                                                             180

4.5.4 Choosing The Best Model                                                                                             181

4.5.5 Panel Least Squares Diagnostics                                                                                   182

4.6 Heterogeneity in the Deployment of Digital Financial Services among the

SSA Countries                                                                                                      184

4.7 Heterogeneity and Contribution of Digital Financial Services, Financial Inclusion

Among the SSA Countries using Correlation                                                            185

4.7 Test of Hypotheses                                                                                                           187

4.8  Discussion of Findings                                                                                               188

4.9.1 The Effect of ATM Transaction Volume on Economic Development in SSA             189

4.9.2 The Effect of POS Transaction Volume on Economic Development in SSA             190

4.9.3 The Effect of Mobile Transaction Volume on Economic Development in SSA  191

4.9.4 The Effect of Number of ATMS on Economic Development in SSA                                    191

4.9.5 The Effect of Number of Commercial Banks on Economic Development in SSA  192


CHAPTER 5: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 Summary of Findings                                                                                                       193

5.2 Conclusion                                                                                                                        194

5.3 Recommendations                                                                                                            194

5.4 Contribution to Knowledge                                                                                              196

References

 

 

 


 

LIST OF TABLES


Table 2.1: The Comparison Between Economic Growth and Economic Development. 78

Table 3.1 Summarizes The Operationalization of the Model Variables                              157

Table 3.2: Operationalization of Variables                                                                            157

Table 4.1: Panel Data                                                                                                             163

Table 4.2: Descriptive Statistic                                                                                              172

Table 4.3: Summary of Panel Unit Root Test                                                                        174

Table 4.4: Correlation Analysis                                                                                              175

Table 4.5: Variance Inflation Factor (VIF)                                                                            176

Table 4.6: Panel Regression (Pooled)                                                                                    177

Table 4.7. Fixed Effects                                                                                                         179

Table 4.8: Random Effects                                                                                                     180

Table 4.9: Hausman Test                                                                                                        181

Table 4.10: Residual Cross-Section Dependence Test Results                                              182

Table 4.11: The Redundant Fixed Effect Test                                                                       183

Table 4.12 Shows The Heterogeneity and Contribution of Digital Financial Services,

Financial inclusion among the SSA Countries Using Correlation                                    185

Table 4.13: Hypotheses Testing                                                                                             188

 

 

 


 

LIST OF FIGURES


Figure 2.1: A Flow Chart Showing Mobile Banking Services                                              22

Figure 2.2:  Flowchart for Illustrating the Significance of Electronic Banking In

Various A Applications                                                                                              32

Figure 2.3:  Financial Inclusion Parameters and Measurement Flowchart                                    56

Figure 2.4: Access to Financial Services                                                                               61

Figure 2.5:  A Typical SSA Business Retailer's Hierarchy of Financial Needs Satisfaction 62

Fig.2.6 Causation Between Financial Inclusion and Human Development

A Conceptual Framework                                                                                          81

Figure 2.7: The Human Development Index Flow Chart Indicating Dimensions,

Indicators, and Dimension Index                                                                                94

Fig. 4.1: Trend of Human Development Index (HDI) among Selected Countries of SSA        166

Fig. 4.2: Trend of Automated Teller Machine Transactions (ATM) Among Selected

Countries of SSA                                                                                                        167

Fig. 4.3: Trend of Point of Sale (POS) Among Selected Countries of SSA                                    168

Fig. 4.4: Trend of Mobile Transaction (Mobile) among Selected Countries of SSA                    169

Fig. 4.5: Trend of Number of Automated Teller Machine (NATM) among Selected Countries \

of SSA                                                                                                                         170

Fig. 4.6: Trend of Number of Microfinance Banks (NCOB) among Selected Countries of SSA171

Figure 4.7: Normal Distribution Histogram                                                                           184

Figure 4.8: Level of Financial Digitalization in Sub-Saharan Africa among

Selected SSA Countries                                                                                             184

 

 


 


 

 

 


CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION


             1.1           BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Digital technologies have been developed to make it simpler for local citizens who cannot otherwise afford a bank account to access extra financial services, making them financially privileged. (Anarfo and Abor, 2020). Digital technologies are also said to be helpful for achieving sustainable development and for integrating the financial system. (Asongu, Biekpe and Cassimon, 2021; Nchofoung and Asongu, 2022). The growth in the number of account holders in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is an indication of financial development (Kouladoum, Wirajing, and Nchofoung, 2022). This study which focused on specific SSA countries such Nigeria, Ghana, Cabo Verde, Kenya, and Uganda. However, the question of whether digital technology improves the SSA financial sector by allowing more people access to financial services or makes it more vulnerable to attacks has been raised. It does both, is the correct response.

Policymakers and scholars have given digital financial inclusion a lot of attention in recent years. (Ozili, 2018).  It is regarded as a change agent with the potential to bring about a revolutionary advancement in the international financial industry. The concept, the proportion of people and businesses who use digital platforms to obtain and use official financial services is known as digital financial inclusion.

Financial systems in developed and emerging nations have evolved as a result of digitization. (Chinoda and Kapingura, 2023). Financial inclusion is increasing as a result of fewer barriers in traditional financial systems, which is also recognized as a critical factor in reaching the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (Kooli, Shanikat and Kanakriyah, 2022; Allen, Demirguc- Kunt, Klapper and Peria 2016). It has been argued that nations with high levels of digital financial inclusion are better prepared to handle challenges associated with economic growth and development. (Khera, Ng and Ogawa 2021; Shen, Hu and Hueng, 2021; Thaddeus, Ngong and Manasseh, 2020). Therefore, increasing digital financial inclusion can benefit several people and organizations in those nations that may be impacted by economic downturns (Chinoda and Kapingura, 2023). People in some nations cannot purchase financial services due to the high poverty rate, which makes living miserable. The growth of rural inhabitants will benefit from this, though, since sustainable development goals are created to guarantee that everyone is involved in the development plans (Adeleye and Eboagu, 2019). Digital technology ensures the affordability of financial services for those who are less privileged. The stability of digital financial services is not assured due to technological advancements and increased competition among financial institutions, which has led many people to question the regulatory impact of digitalization on the stability of the financial system.

Digital financial services (DFS) are frequently seen as a productive approach to generate opportunities to enhance financial inclusion because they lower the cost of delivering these services. They lower transaction costs for businesses while promoting financial inclusion. It is also referred to be the complete technology available for using digital remote techniques to supply financial services from a wide variety of providers to a wide variety of receivers. (Including e-money, mobile money, card payments, and electronic funds transfers). In addition to facilitating money transfers, DFS provides a safe place to store electronic money (sometimes referred to as mobile money or e-money) (Buckley, Malady, Stanley and Tsang, 2016). Agur, Peria, and Rochon (2020) further described digital financial services as financial services (such payments, remittances, and credit) available and provided through digital channels, such as mobile devices, the internet, web transactions, point of sale, etc. These include tried-and-true instruments (like debit and credit cards, which are often offered by banks), as well as innovative a roaches based on digital platforms, cloud computing, and distributed ledger technology (DLT), which include peer-to-peer (P2P) applications, digital currency, and crypto-assets.

Financial inclusion is one of the key drivers of economic growth, as it also helps to fight poverty and may be utilized to lessen social exclusion (Aaluri, Narayana and Kumar, 2016). Financial inclusion may be improved by the usage of Digital Financial Services (DFS), which has been highlighted as one of the key financial solutions. Market forces alone cannot ensure the provision of goods and services that are required to meet end users' wants, means, or wishes because the targeted end users often have little to provide in comparison to apparent profitable prospects. DFS's potential could be harmed by insufficient adoption and use, which would have a negligible effect on the phenomenon of financial inclusion (Demirgüç-Kunt, Klapper, Singer, Van and Oudheusden 2015; Ozili, 2020 a and b). Financial inclusion (FI), which is defined as having access to and using formal financial services to enhance individual welfare in a nation, enables people to start their own businesses, save money for the future, and invest in their children. This lessens poverty and advances development of the individual, the economy, and society (Ozili, 2018). Financial inclusion, often referred to as inclusive finance, is the provision of financial services at a reasonable cost to members of the underprivileged and low-income sector of society, as confirmed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (2011). It entails providing a wide range of high-quality financial products that are applicable, appropriate, and within the capabilities of the adult population as a whole, especially the low-income group. These products include savings, credit, payments, insurance, and provisions.

Economic development is generally understood by Myint and Krueger (2016) and Panth (2021) to be the structural transformation of an economy through the use of more advanced and automated technologies in order to increase labor productivity, employment, incomes, and population growth. Economic development should be supported by changes to the institutional, economic, and political settings in order to permit the transformation of the economy. A country's attempts to fight poverty are regarded to be greatly aided by economic growth since it allows for higher incomes, more job possibilities, the delivery of better goods and services, and the use of cutting-edge industrial technologies. Audu (2012) stated that economic advancement leads to better self-esteem standards, freedom from persecution, and more possibilities. It is a process that results in long-term improvements in a country's political, social, and technological economic institutions as well as an increase in real national income. The ordinary person's real income increases as a result.

The standard of financial inclusion is predicted to drive the economy towards higher indices of growth and development by producing resources (and allowing access) for investment and economic reasons where they are not presently available. (Okonkwo and Nwanna, 2021). In line with (Kama and Adigun, 2013) utilizing and accumulating these resources offers a sizable supply of accessible long-term investable capital that is reasonably priced. It also entails bringing the gray market banking sector into the mainstream. In general, low- and middle-income earners make up the biggest percentage of the population and hold the majority of the economy's idle fund (Nwafor and Yomi, 2018). Although each of the several million members of this group has only a modest amount of these funds, using and gathering these resources gives a substantial foundation of accessible long-term investable capital. Kazeem (2017) agreed most economies that have not fully embraced financial inclusion are frequently constructed in a way that a sizeable percentage of money flows in the unofficial sector, which is detrimental to both society and the individual. Financial inclusion has grown in importance since the early 2000s as a crucial component of achieving inclusive economic growth and development that is self-sustaining. Decision-makers, academics, and development organizations all over the world adore it (Ezenwakwelu, 2018).

In this era of technological innovation, the banking industry must thrive in order to extend the maturity of the product life cycle (Babarinde, Gidigbi, Ndaghu, and Abdulmajeed, 2020). Digital financial services (DFS) have been considered to be of great relevance to the general public in addition to enhancing currency security and being more convenient than leaving cash at home or carrying it when traveling (Shofawati, 2019).  For the provision of DFS, a variety of actors are needed, including banks and other financial institutions, mobile network carriers, regulators, financial technology companies, agents, retailers, and customers. Infrastructure needs to be improved in order to make DFS more user-friendly, secure, and cost-effective (Shofawati, 2019). Digital disruption has the ability to lessen the role and importance of today's banks while also supporting them in the creation of better, quicker, and less expensive services. (Agufa, 2016).

Financial inclusion benefits are inherent in digital finance (Fintech), given its qualities like sharing, convenience, low cost, and simple access, (availability, accessibility, affordable). Dara (2018) highlighted the importance of financial innovation in this decade. But the rise of digital financial services which has attracted the attention of many countries, including SSA, will help to increase financial inclusion by utilizing digital technology. It is also necessary to develop a trustworthy and inclusive level of financial inclusion and digital financial services in order to evaluate the extent of financial inclusion in various SSA countries, examine different government policies and initiatives, and ascertain the connection between financial inclusion and digital financial services in SSA with a view to determining their effect on economic development.

             

             1.2           STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

 Majority of rural residents lack good education at all levels but bad attitude to digital financial operations. The speed at which people can undertake digital financial services varies by education level. Comparatively someone with suitable education, a person can do multiple transaction within a short time. Conversely a person with limited education typically finds it challenging to do many digital financial services. Therefore, poor education and bad attitude has an impact on digital financial services.

Banks make money from a range of transactions carried out at points of sale, on mobile banking platforms, and through automated teller machines. With an increase in transactions, the bank makes more money from each individual account. Lower transaction volume, however, can affect the withdrawals banks make from their customers' accounts, which will cut into their earnings.

In remote locations, it is exceedingly difficult to find commercial banks and automated teller machines. Banks are cautious about installing off-site automated teller machines (ATM) and opening branches in outlying areas. Security risks, poor internet access, insufficient power sources, and a poor road system are some of the significant challenges that banks face while maintaining off-site ATMs. When opening new bank branches, the majority of banks take into account the size of the local economy, the availability of markets that can support bank branches, operational costs, staffing, insufficient power supply, insufficient road network, security concerns, and all of these make the people in the rural areas financially excluded, but this work will introduce digital financial services channels to rural dwellers to make them financially inclusive.

 

1.3       OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The main objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of digital financial services and financial inclusion on economic development in Sub Sahara Africa. This can be achieved through the following specific objectives to:

1)      determine the effects of Automated Teller Machine (ATM) volume of transactions on the economic development of selected Sub - Saharan African countries.

2)      examine the influence of Mobile Banking Services (MBS) volume of transactions on the economic development of selected Sub - Saharan African countries.

3)      investigate the effects of Point of Sale (POS) volume of transactions on the economic development of selected Sub - Saharan African countries

4)      ascertain the availability of ATM per 100,000 adults on economic development of selected Sub - Saharan African countries.  

5)      determine the effects of number of commercial banks per 100,000 adults on economic development of selected Sub - Saharan African countries.

1.4       RESEARCH QUESTIONS

This study is aimed at finding answers to the following research questions.

1)      To what extent have ATM volume of transactions affected the economic development of selected Sub - Saharan African countries?

2)      In what ways does MBS volume of transactions influence economic development of selected Sub - Saharan African countries?

3)      How does POS volume of transactions impact on the economic development of selected Sub - Saharan African countries?

4)      In what ways does the availability of automated teller machines per 100,000 adults influence economic development of selected Sub - Saharan African countries?

5)      How can the effects of number of commercial bank per 100,000 adults on economic development of selected Sub - Saharan African countries be examined?


1.5       HYPOTHESES

In order to answer the research questions, the following null hypotheses guided the study:

HO1: Automated teller machine (ATM) volume of transactions does not have significant effect on economic development in Sub - Saharan African countries.

HO2: There is no significant effect of mobile banking services (MBS) volume of transactions on economic development of selected Sub - Saharan African countries.

HO3: The point of sale (POS) volume of transactions does not exact statistically significant influence on economic development of selected Sub - Saharan African countries.

HO4: The availability of ATM per 100,000 adults have no significant impact on economic development of selected Sub - Saharan African countries. 

HO5: The amount of commercial bank per 100,000 adults does not exact statistically significant influence on economic development of selected Sub - Saharan African countries.


1.6       SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This work examines the effect of digital financial services, financial inclusion and economic development of Sub-Saharan Africa countries using data from Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Cabo Verde and Kenya. The scope of this study covers the period of 2009 to 2020. The period was sufficient to capture the impact of digital financial services and financial inclusion on Sub-Saharan Africa's economic development.

This research compared effect of digital financial services, financial inclusion and how it contributed to economic development of selected SSA countries covering the period of 2009 to 2020.  This was aimed at analyzing how digital financial services, financial inclusion has impacted on economic development of the chosen SSA countries. The dependent variable used in this work was human development index which was used as a measure of economic development, Human development index is defined by mean years of schooling, expected years of schooling, life expectancy at birth and gross national income per capita. While the following independent variables were employed. Digital financial services was measured using automated teller volume of transactions per 100,000 adults, mobile banking volume of transactions per 100,000 adults, and point of sale volume of transactions per 100,000 adults, Whereas financial inclusion variables used are availability of automated teller machines per 100,000 adults and number of commercial banks branches per 100,000 adults.

The countries used in this study was selected from Sub-Saharan Africa purposively based on the availability of data within the period under review by the researcher. The data used for this study was sourced from the World development indicators and Central Bank of the selected countries in SSA. This study used time series data and product moment correlation.


1.7       SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The following have been discovered to be of major value as a result of research undertaken in this field of study:

Researchers: Building a solid financial infrastructure that supports economic growth and development requires a strong focus on financial inclusion, which has recently received a lot of attention in academia (Sharma 2016). This thesis provides a framework for further qualitative and quantitative investigations into the contextual relationship between digital financial services and financial inclusion and economic development. The results of this study will therefore contribute to the greater discussion on digital financial services and financial inclusion on economic development in Sub- Saharan Africa.

Financial inclusion significantly affects monetary and financial stability, in line with the monetary authorities. In order to increase the impact of financial inclusion and achieve inclusive economic growth in emerging and developing nations, this study will provide clear signals to the monetary authorities that it is time to reevaluate current policies. As more people gain access to formal accounts and move their savings from informal to formal accounts, banks can pool these new deposits and lend the money to the real economy. Because of this study, banks will be more likely to consider the obvious trade-off when designing methods of providing financial services to Africa's vulnerable and marginalized, which will promote growth that is pro-poor.

Policymakers: Research indicates that numerous African countries might see yearly GDP rises of one to two percent by lowering their reliance on cash and taking advantage of recent advancements in transaction account access. (Pazarbasioglu, Mora, Uttamchandani, Natarajan, Feyen and Saal, 2020). Policymakers can utilize the study's findings to help them create laws and rules that can hasten financial inclusion projects and enhance their nation's financial system for long-term economic development.

The government of Sub-Saharan countries: This study will be of the utmost advantage to the government of the sampled nations as they will find the recommendations highly pertinent for making references in terms of formulating and enacting policies.

Development finance and development economists have a role to play in using the study's findings to provide modules on how to use digital financial services and financial inclusion to address poverty issues rather than adhering to some unrealistic old growth models. This will also give a lot more people the opportunity to take part in financial inclusion programs in their communities.


1.8       LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

Every scientific project has constraints. This study's limitations in this area are as follows.

Lack of research materials: It is difficult to get access to high-quality journals because most of them are published for a price. These fees are typically out of reach. The researcher was forced to turn to open access papers and certain scholarly materials from the internet as a result, however occasionally poor network was encountered due to its erratic nature.

Finances: Since the researcher had to balance paying for this study with expenses for his or her family, money was limited during the duration of this research. But in order to make this study credible, help was gathered from friends and family.

Lack of data bank: Nigeria lacks a common data bank, making it difficult to generate data from the past. Although I was able to regularly monitor the data to produce the necessary results, it took some time for me to gain access to the data from the other countries that were also utilized.

Poor power supply: in addition to the high expense of purchasing gasoline (petrol) and maintaining a producing plant, poor power supply was also a problem due to noise pollution.

However, in order to complete the study, the researcher used the opportunity cost principle, the scale of choice, and careful resource management to overcome these limitations.

 

Click “DOWNLOAD NOW” below to get the complete Projects

FOR QUICK HELP CHAT WITH US NOW!

+(234) 0814 780 1594

Buyers has the right to create dispute within seven (7) days of purchase for 100% refund request when you experience issue with the file received. 

Dispute can only be created when you receive a corrupt file, a wrong file or irregularities in the table of contents and content of the file you received. 

ProjectShelve.com shall either provide the appropriate file within 48hrs or send refund excluding your bank transaction charges. Term and Conditions are applied.

Buyers are expected to confirm that the material you are paying for is available on our website ProjectShelve.com and you have selected the right material, you have also gone through the preliminary pages and it interests you before payment. DO NOT MAKE BANK PAYMENT IF YOUR TOPIC IS NOT ON THE WEBSITE.

In case of payment for a material not available on ProjectShelve.com, the management of ProjectShelve.com has the right to keep your money until you send a topic that is available on our website within 48 hours.

You cannot change topic after receiving material of the topic you ordered and paid for.

Ratings & Reviews

0.0

No Review Found.


To Review


To Comment