Financial Inclusion

Au terme de ce parcours académique, qui fut à la fois une aventure intellectuelle, un défi personnel et une école de persévérance, il m'est un devoir, mais surtout un honneur, d'exprimer ma profonde gratitude à toutes celles et ceux qui, d'une manière ou d'une autre, ont contribué à l'aboutissement de ce travail. Je rends tout d'abord grâce au Dieu Tout-Puissant, Maître des temps et des circonstances, qui m'a accordé la force, la sagesse et la persévérance nécessaires pour franchir chaque étape de ce chemin. Sans Sa bienveillance, ce travail n'aurait jamais vu le jour. Ma reconnaissance s'adresse ensuite, avec toute la sincérité de mon coeur, à mes parents bien-aimés, Madame Fatuma Betu et Monsieur David Vital. Par vos sacrifices, votre amour incommensurable et votre soutien indéfectible, vous avez été et demeurez les piliers de ma vie. C'est à vous que je dois ce que je suis aujourd'hui. À mes frères Vital, François, Jeffrey, Alves et Ernest, ainsi que Thaddee et Dan, je tiens à exprimer toute ma gratitude pour votre affection fraternelle, vos encouragements constants et vos paroles de réconfort qui m'ont porté dans les moments d'incertitude. A mon très cher ami Elie MUSIKU pour son soutient tout au long de la réalisation de ce travail. Je souhaite exprimer des remerciements tout particuliers à Monsieur le Professeur Frédéric KALALA, mon directeur de mémoire, pour sa disponibilité rare, son exigence intellectuelle et la qualité de son encadrement. Malgré ses nombreuses responsabilités, il a su m'accorder de son temps et m'offrir des conseils précieux qui ont considérablement enrichi ce travail. Mes remerciements vont également à Monsieur Dedi, dont l'aide attentive et l'appui technique ont grandement facilité l'élaboration de ce mémoire. Enfin, je n'oublie pas toutes celles et ceux qui, de près ou de loin, ont contribué à la réussite de ce projet académique. Qu'il s'agisse de leur soutien moral, matériel ou intellectuel, qu'ils trouvent ici l'expression de ma reconnaissance la plus sincère.

One of the most important factors in boosting prosperity is financial inclusion, which is defined as having access to and using financial services. And, financial literacy aids in teaching and empowering people so that they are knowledgeable about and capable of evaluating a variety of financial products and services to make decisions that will maximize their utility. So, the goal of the current study is to see if we have financial literacy this will help to achieve financial inclusion and then achieve sustainability. Hence, the following research question was addressed to achieve the research objective: What is the role of financial literacy in achieving financial inclusion in Egypt? To evaluate the research model, 424 Egyptian individuals were polled online using structural equation modeling. The results indicated that financial literacy had a significant and positive impact on financial inclusion. This lends support to the Hypothesis of the study, which suggests that financial literacy significantly affects financial inclusion and enhances sustainable development in Egypt.

The transition to a green economy has become a critical policy objective for sustainable development, with digital financial inclusion (DFI) serving as a key enabler of this shift. This study examines the relationship between financial inclusion broken down into traditional and digital components and green economic growth (GEG) in SouthEastern Europe (SEE) countries from 2011 to 2021, while also assessing the role of institutional quality. Using a fixed effects regression model, we analyze constructed indices for financial inclusion and institutional quality, which are constructed Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The results reveal that both digital and traditional financial inclusion (TFI) positively influence GEG, underscoring their role in advancing sustainability. However, institutional quality has a positive but insignificant impact on GEG, suggesting that governance weaknesses may hinder progress. This finding highlights the need for institutional reforms, particularly in governance and the rule of law, especially for non-EU countries, to better support green economic initiatives. Based on these insights, the study recommends that SEE, non-EU countries strengthen their regulatory frameworks to enhance transparency, security, and efficiency in digital financial services. Key measures include improving institutional quality (e.g., data security and consumer protection), expanding digital infrastructure, and promoting financial literacy. Such efforts are essential to fostering trust in digital finance and creating an enabling environment for sustainable, inclusive growth.

The growing need for new applications and software has driven developers to seek quick development options. As a result, the low-code/no-code technology platform emerges as a potential option, leading to the adoption of low-code and no-code technologies in enterprises becoming a focus of inquiry. This study aims to examine users' behavioral intentions toward the adoption of the low-code/no-code technology platform, considering the increasing need for new applications. The Extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model serves as the theoretical framework for understanding the factors influencing individuals' intentions to adopt low-code or no-code technologies. The study focused on the five key components of the model: Performance Expectation (PE), Effort Expectation (EE), Social Influence (SI), Perceived Risk (PR), and Perceived Cost (PC). Based on the surveys and data analysis techniques, the findings show relationship between these five categories with an individual's Behavioral Intention (BI) to adopt lowcode/no-code technologies. Furthermore, the analysis identifies the most significant BI construct. These findings are beneficial to businesses seeking to enhance efficiency and expedite application development processes in response to increasing digital demands. In general, this study contributes to the topic of technology adoption and improves our understanding of the practicality of the Extended UTAUT model.

This study focuses on the implementation of a cashless payment method in a canteen at the University of Indonesia (UI). In cooperation with Bank Negara Indonesia, the university introduced a smartcard (TapCash) that acts as an identification card and a digital payment method on or off-campus. Based on structured interviews with tenants and buyers (students) at the canteen in 2018, this paper shows that the implementation of a cashless payment method at this cafeteria has advantages and disadvantages. A total of 50,8% of the respondents was positive about this method of payment, while the rest of the group described negative experiences. Factors such as the simplicity and security of using TapCash, as well as certain technical issues, influenced user experiences.

The paper will discuss the revolutionary importance of blockchain technology in remaking the international financial arena, with specific reference to the influence of blockchain technology on the development of digital currencies. A decentralized, immutable distributed registry system, blockchain, is the basis of transparency, security, and trustless verification that forms the foundation of the current infrastructure of digital currency. The study examines the use of the major applications such as Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), Decentralized Finance (DeFi), cross-border payment systems, and asset tokenization through a review of recent literature. As noted in the analysis, blockchain has the potential to improve the efficiency of transactions, financial inclusion, and the reliance on centralized intermediaries. It however also finds that there are still some long term challenges like scaling, interoperability, energy usage and regulatory uncertainties that can be very limiting to general adoption. In spite of these limitations, the paper finds that blockchain is an innovative technology that has the capability of revolutionizing digital currencies. The next step in the evolution will be the harmonization of regulations, technical advances, and integrating blockchain with upcoming technologies, including artificial intelligence and Internet of Things, and leading to a more inclusive and transparent financial system.

This advisory explores the integration of Reinforcement Learning (RL) into Mobile Financial Services (MFS) to advance inclusive finance and equity in developing economies, with a focus on Bangladesh and Nigeria. RL, an adaptive AI paradigm that trains agents through dynamic interactions and rewards, offers transformative potential beyond traditional models by enabling real-time decision-making in volatile financial environments. Key applications include alternative credit scoring using digital footprints and psychometrics, adaptive fraud detection via algorithms like DQN and PPO, and multi-agent systems for entrepreneurship, such as gamified financial literacy tools.

This Industry Study by Tisoro Global examines Egypt’s evolving investment and banking landscape entering 2025. It analyses the country’s investment migration channels, banking onboarding mechanisms, and capital processing reforms reshaping foreign investor participation. The study benchmarks Egypt’s policy momentum against global standards, highlighting reforms within the Central Bank of Egypt’s digital infrastructure, Know-Your-Customer (KYC) modernization, and foreign capital accessibility. It identifies investor opportunities across sovereign partnership frameworks, investment funds, and fintech-led onboarding pathways while addressing systemic risks linked to currency stability and regulatory agility. Combining policy analytics, capital flow metrics, and executive interviews, this report provides a strategic lens for high-net-worth investors, sovereign units, and institutional banks evaluating Egypt’s next-phase investment potential.

Nigeria has witnessed a substantial emigration of educated and skilled workers to other countries in the quest for greener pastures. Developing nations, such as Nigeria, with a recognizable number of highly educated and skilled individuals with an attitude to work to earn a living, are potentially exposed to brain drain syndrome, which is inimical to economic prosperity struggles. Hence, this study investigated whether financial inclusion is a determinant of brain drain in Nigeria. Method: Quantitative methods were used in this study, employing ARDL-ECM regression to analyze both short-and long-run relationships among the variables. Data were collected from the International Monetary Fund, Nigeria Bureau of Statistics, and the Central Bank of Nigeria (2003-2022). Results: The study established that Gross Domestic Product per Capita, ATMs per 100,000 Adults, Deposits with Commercial Banks % to GDP and Political Stability have a negative relationship with Brain Drain in Nigeria, whereas unemployment, bank credit to the private sector, and government efficiency have a positive relationship with brain drain. Limitations: The study was limited to Nigeria, and the findings may not be generalizable to other countries. Contributions: This study contributes to the field of finance in terms of financial inclusion matters and to the Nigerian government by identifying the determinants of brain drain in Nigeria. Novelty: This study added financial inclusion as a determinant of brain drain in Nigeria, which other existing studies have not covered.

Introduction: Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are often praised as socially cohesive and inclusive economic development engines. However, this study argues that such assumptions overlook critical equity gaps. Methods: The study analyzed data from semi-structured interviews conducted across South African municipalities. Two empirical questions guide this inquiry: What systemic barriers within SEZs' policy and operational frameworks hinder their ability to address the needs of marginalized populations and communities? How can targeted policy measures and stakeholder engagement mechanisms be designed and implemented to ensure SEZs promote sustainable and equitable local economic development? Results: Findings reveal that SEZs have succeeded in creating jobs and improving infrastructure, but fail to adequately address the needs of local communities. Despite their potential, SEZs cannot inherently foster inclusivity without deliberate policy measures and robust stakeholder engagement. Key barriers include uneven distribution of resources, weak enforcement of inclusive policies, and inadequate community engagement. Discussion: This study challenges the argument that SEZs inherently benefit local communities and that they risk perpetuating inequalities unless designed with equity at the forefront. Policymakers must implement targeted interventions, including transparent frameworks and participatory mechanisms, to ensure SEZs deliver equitable outcomes. By demystifying the perceived inclusivity of SEZs, this research highlights the critical need to rethink their implementation to promote sustainable and equitable development.

Purpose: The aim of the study is to identify by exploring why digital financial inclusion has become more difficult recently. To find out what challenges faced by people where issues of financially excluded, deep-rooted problems have arisen in the path of inclusive economic development.   Theoretical Framework: The financial success of the digital age is inspiring people. The digital revolution unfolds more opportunities for stakeholders to increase the inclusivity in finance of all eligible individuals with the help of technology.   Design/Methodology/Approach: Any technological advancement will inevitably have both beneficial and bad effects.  It is apt to focus on minimising any potential drawbacks. A wide range of assessments of the concept of digital financial inclusion, a literature review culminates as the foundation for the research design and subsequently highlights some pertinent issues.   Findings: The study observed that the development of digital technology has made it ...

Background and Research Aims: Community Resource Management Areas (CREMAs) are Ghana's decentralized approach to biodiversity conservation and sustainable natural resource governance. Despite their institutional legality and community support, CREMAs face persistent financial instability, largely due to donor dependency and the absence of sustainable internal funding mechanisms. In contrast, Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) have emerged as resilient, community-driven financial systems that promote local livelihoods. This study asks: Can communities sustainably finance their own conservation through grassroots mechanisms like VSLAs? Grounded in Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM), collective action theory, and informal rural finance systems, the aim is to explore the feasibility of integrating VSLAs into CREMA governance as a model for localized conservation finance. Methods: A qualitative case study was employed across four CREMAs in Ghana's Black Volta River and Western Wildlife corridors. Sixteen focus group discussions were conducted with CREMA executive members, community leaders, VSLA participants, and women and youth groups. Thematic analysis identified perceptions, challenges, and opportunities for financing CREMA activities through VSLAs. Results: Findings indicate strong community acceptance of CREMAs, but significant underfunding limits their conservation impact. Conversely, VSLAs were described as trusted, inclusive, and capable of supporting household and community needs. Participants advocated integrating VSLAs into CREMA governance with transparency safeguards and shared control mechanisms. Women and youth, central to VSLA operations, were identified as key stakeholders for advancing inclusive conservation finance. Conclusion: Integrating VSLAs into CREMA structures presents a promising model for bottom-up, sustainable financing of conservation activities in Ghana. It builds on existing community trust systems, enhances participation, and reduces reliance on external donors. Implications for Conservation: This study contributes a novel community-based green financing framework that links informal rural finance with decentralized conservation governance. It offers replicable insights for scaling localized conservation finance in other resource-dependent, tropical contexts across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji tentang perkembangan UMKM di wilayah Madura dari sisi inklusi keuangan yang diukur dari pelayanan, akses permodalan, dan pendampingan terhadap perkembangan modal usaha. Teknik purposive sampling digunakan untuk mengambil sampel dari UMKM di kabupaten Bangkalan dan Kabupaten Pamekasan. Penelitian yang menggunakan regresi linier berganda memberikan hasil bahwa inklusi keuangan yang diukur dari pelayanan, akses permodalan, dan pendampingan mempunyai pengaruh terhadap perkembangan usaha UMKM di Madura.

This quantitative study aims to find out the development of MSMEs in the Madura region which is based on financial inclusion. The data collection method used a purposive sampling technique in determining the number of samples of MSMEs in the Madura region, especially Bangkalan and Pamekasan regencies. Based on the results of the study which were analyzed using multiple linear regression, it showed that financial inclusion in Madura, which was measured based on the service variables, access to capital, and mentoring, had an impact on the development of MSME businesses in Madura.”,,,

This study on challenges and opportunities in microfinance was conducted at the Amargadhi branch office of Mero Microfinance. Microfinance has emerged as a key tool for poverty alleviation globally; however, it faces specific challenges in geographically remote and difficult terrains like Nepal. This study focuses on Mero Microfinance Laghubitta Bittiya

Allí donde vemos una imagen del cuerpo, el cuerpo ha desaparecido. Ni su materia, ni su subjetividad, ni su alma sobreviven al estallido de fotones que inician el proceso de creación de la ilusión neuronal en nuestro cerebro. Ilusión de la trama de ilusiones que llamamos cultura, telaraña tejida de etiquetas que anticipan la presencia del cuerpo. Allí donde se nombra el cuerpo, el cuerpo se ha perdido. En nuestro tiempo las miradas ya no quieren posarse en un cuerpo cualquiera, ni en el cuerpo de cada uno. Las miradas fijan su atención en modelos (a)normalizadores. Como aves de rapiña cazan culos, tetas, abdominales, ojos, pelos y narices cortados y esculpidos con cirujana precisión geométrica. Mi cuerpo y tu cuerpo, el cuerpo del Otro, son el territorio de la batalla por la colonización de la alteridad. La estrategia consiste en alejar el cuerpo del tacto, ponerlo a una distancia irreductible, fuera de nuestro alcance, en un anaquel, en una vitrina, en una pantalla, en lugares bidi...

This study offers a multidimensional analysis of Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by user base and trading volume as of October 2025, hosting over 293 million registered users and generating a daily turnover exceeding $34 billion. Positioned at the crossroads of finance, technology, and behavioral economics, the research examines Binance’s structural evolution, market dominance, and regulatory trajectory while assessing its influence on the broader digital asset ecosystem.

By integrating perspectives from financial theory, economic sociology, and innovation studies, the paper explores how 24/7 trading dynamics, blockchain-based infrastructures, and decentralized systems are reshaping traditional concepts of liquidity, investor psychology, and global market integration. The analysis highlights Binance’s technological and operational strengths—such as Proof of Reserves (PoR) transparency and the Secure Asset Fund for Users (SAFU)—alongside persistent challenges including jurisdictional compliance, systemic risk exposure, and behavioral vulnerabilities linked to continuous market accessibility.

Furthermore, the research contextualizes Binance’s development within evolving international frameworks like the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation and post-2023 global compliance realignments. The findings suggest that Binance serves as both a catalyst and case study for the digital transformation of financial systems, demonstrating the convergence between centralized platforms and decentralized innovation. Ultimately, this work argues that the future of global finance will hinge upon balancing technological advancement, ethical regulation, and sustainable digital integration.

Banking sector deals with financial services became an essential service of today's society. Customers are the key components of banks. The banking products offered by every bank are standardized in nature. So, there is a need for every bank to differentiate itself from its competitors. Thus, customer satisfaction has become utmost important criteria for a bank's performance in long run. The significant predictor of customer satisfaction and organizational performance is customer empowerment. Customer empowerment is the ability of customers to take their own decisions consciously. It is highly required to survive in extensive competitive market and has been identified as a growing force of marketing. It eventually leads to customer satisfaction.At this juncture, a modest attempt is made in this paper to identify the innovative practices of banks to bring out customer satisfaction through customer empowerment.

Poverty remains a persistent challenge in Uganda, with significant disparities between rural and urban areas. According to the 2021/2022 Uganda National Household Survey, 39% of Ugandans continue to live in subsistence economies, with rural poverty at 25%, compared to just 10% in urban areas (UBOS, 2022). The Parish Development Model (PDM), designed to decentralize economic empowerment by organizing communities into functional economic units at the parish level, aims to address these disparities (Mugisha & Onyango, 2023). However, its early implementation has faced challenges, including elite capture, inadequate mindset change, and weak institutional coordination (Mukwaya, 2023). This paper critically examines the PDM, emphasizing the importance of transformative community mobilization and mindset shifts towards entrepreneurship to avoid the pitfalls of past supply-driven poverty interventions. Drawing on participatory development theory (Chambers, 1994) and the capability approach (Sen, 1999), it argues that poverty reduction requires both structural and behavioral changes. The paper proposes practical remedies to enhance the PDM, including investing in grassroots adult education, strengthening local governance accountability, and integrating rural livelihoods into viable value chains (World Bank, 2023). These measures can help the PDM move beyond its current limitations and foster long-term, community-driven economic development. By focusing on mindset change, accountability, and sustainable entrepreneurial pathways, the PDM has the potential to transform Uganda's rural economy and empower communities to drive their own development. The success of the PDM depends on its ability to embrace local knowledge, build trust, and support inclusive economic participation.

Purpose: Digital Financial Literacy (DFL) refers to the capability to utilize technology for conducting financial transactions. DFL plays a pivotal role in broadening access to financial services. Nevertheless, its adoption in rural microfinance needs further investigation. This study assesses the prevailing DFL level among rural women, explores its impact on the use of digital platforms for microfinance transactions and identifies barriers to its adoption. Methodology: A quantitative methodology using a structured questionnaire was utilized to collect data from rural women, with responses analyzed through descriptive statistics, the chi-square test, as well as logistic regression. Findings: The findings indicate that rural women possess moderate levels of digital financial literacy. Statistical analysis revealed a marginally significant relationship between DFL level and the adoption of digital platforms, implying that other factors may influence adoption. The regression analysis indicated a significant negative relationship between these variables suggesting that a higher DFL level leads to lower digital microfinance use. Therefore, this study underscores qualitative factors such as lack of trust, confidence, and security concerns as primary barriers to digital microfinance transactions. Despite the availability and knowledge of digital platforms, traditional payment channels are still the norm for microfinance transactions among rural women. Practical Implications: The findings emphasize the significance of the implementation of confidencebuilding measures and digital training programs for enhancing the use of digital platforms in the rural microfinance context. Social Implications: The study adds value by examining the primary challenges and opportunities for microfinance in rural areas and provides recommendations to microfinance institutions and policymakers to further enhance the digital financial participation of rural women. Originality: The study presents a unique perspective on the relationship between DFL and digital microfinance adoption in rural communities.

Several studies have called attention to the effect of governance on countries' economic growth, using various analytical approaches. However, there is limited understanding of the longitudinal effect of governance dimensions on the economic growth of various countries as well as the effect of governance on the aggregate growth of countries as measured through gross domestic product (GDP) and gross national income (GNI). This study investigated the effect of governance on economic development using 10-year panel data across 177 counties worldwide through the years 2010-2019. A panel data analysis was used to determine the effect of the World Bank's World Governance Indicators (WGIs) which were summarized into four governance dimensions after considering various tests. The valid estimates were provided by GMM-Difference and GMM-System. The results reveal that the areas of governance such as citizens' participation, political freedom, quality government, and quality laws and regulations are jointly significant in affecting economic growth. Specific results emphasize the positive effect of citizens' participation, political freedom, and quality of laws and regulations while also pointing out the diminishing impact of the perceived quality of government on economic growth.

This thesis explores the intersection of popular culture and economic critique by examining Ursula in Disney's The Little Mermaid as a metaphor for predatory lending practices. By analyzing Ursula's manipulation of Ariel, this work draws parallels with exploitative financial institutions and their role in reinforcing socioeconomic disparities, particularly in Nigeria. Using insights from Marx, Foucault, and contemporary economic theory, it critiques the normalization of debt, elitism, and state complicity. This interdisciplinary approach bridges cinema, philosophy, and economic reality to humanize systemic critique and encourage readers to rethink both capitalism and cultural narratives.

This paper examines how free market mechanisms—especially fintech, mobile money, and decentralized finance—are reshaping financial inclusion across Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite steady progress in account ownership, nearly half of the region’s population remains unbanked, with women and rural populations disproportionately excluded. Drawing on case studies such as M-Pesa in Kenya, MTN–Ecobank partnerships, and cryptocurrency adoption in Nigeria, the study highlights how private-sector innovation can overcome infrastructural, regulatory, and trust barriers that have long constrained traditional banking. The analysis finds that market-driven solutions, when supported by adaptive regulation, open banking standards, and public-private partnerships, can deliver scalable, affordable, and sustainable financial access. The paper concludes by proposing a hybrid policy model that preserves market dynamism while safeguarding consumer interests—positioning financial inclusion not merely as a social good, but as a foundation for Africa’s broader economic transformation.

The study examines how blockchain fintech synergy transforms the structure of global financial systems by converting disruption into institutional reform. It focuses on multi-country evidence from 42 economies across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Latin America between 2020 and 2024. Using structural equation modeling on secondary datasets from the IMF Fintech Index, BIS, and World Bank FinReg data, the analysis demonstrates that decentralized transactions (β = 0.41), smart contracts (β = 0.29), and tokenized assets (β = 0.22) collectively enhance institutional efficiency and resilience. Regulatory adaptability showed a strong moderating effect (β = 0.12), proving that flexible policy frameworks accelerate technological diffusion and systemic stability. The findings reveal that blockchain innovation not only improves liquidity and transparency but also enables financial institutions to internalize disruption, turning technological change into reform. This research contributes to theory by extending The Innovator's Dilemma through the addition of regulatory adaptability, thereby broadening its explanatory scope and offering a refined framework for understanding systemic innovation in global financial ecosystems. The study bridges the gap between micro-level innovation theory and macroeconomic transformation, showing that adaptive governance transforms disruption into sustainable financial equilibrium. It provides actionable insights for policymakers, regulators, and multinational financial institutions seeking to harness blockchain fintech convergence for inclusive and transparent economic growth.

Financial inclusion" is the delivery of financial services at affordable costs, especially to the disadvantaged and low income populations. Financial inclusion has gained some importance in the last few decades as a result of findings on the impact of "financial exclusion" on development and especially its correlation to poverty.This paper arguesthat access to financial services contributes to human and economic development; and that financial inclusion and effective AML/CFT are complementary to ensure the safety, integrity and soundness of the financial system and the protection of depositors. It calls for the recognition of country specific characteristics of the derived segments of the society, the risks and national priorities in the application of AML/CFT measures, as well as how financial inclusion has been applied with flexible AML/CFT principles. It concludes that inclusive finance does not necessarily mean that everyone who is eligible uses each of the services, but they should be able to choose to use such services if they wish.

Financial inclusion helps to ensure the monetary stability of an economy by increasing the scope of savings, investment, and consumption decisions among people from all levels, especially from rural/remote areas. For a long time, Financial inclusion has been well-established in developed nations, but still, it is a new area for developing nations i.e. in mostly Asian, African, and Latin American countries. Financial inclusion targeted the monetary benefits and it is found as a successful tool too in many cases around the globe. This paper tried to identify the non-monetary impact only, considering the evidence from Indian society. It charted the series of social factors that have been directly connected to financial inclusions and those have been changed over the years with its introduction in India. The paper had attempted to investigate all the in and out the financial inclusion based on content analysis.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a rapidly growing area that has been getting the greatest attention in the business including the banking sector. AI has huge applications in the area of commerce, education, transportation, banking as well as daily life. AI in the banking industry relies on faster inexpensive, more accurate, and efficient work at the banking sector. By using AI in commercial banks, the banker gets more benefits and audience response positive as well as strong competition in work efficiency. AI provides renovating ideas to promote the banking sector through Automated Teller Machines (ATM). In this research paper, the impact of AI in the commercial bank ATM sector has been discussed with primary data collected from five banks and 30 ATMs from the perspective of clients. It was found that AI on ATMs has a positive impact as it gives excellent client service, high work efficiency, and security.

Indian agriculture sector facing many challenges like low productivity in Agriculture, lack of marketing facilities, lack quality Seeds, Pesticides, and Fertilizers, lack awareness on growing of food and cash crops, lack minimum support price uneven rainfall etc. This all factors causes to failure of agriculture and rural development , when the Government of India it provides agriculture infrastructural facilities including institutional credit from post-independence to till date, the result is increase Food grains and non-food grain production and productivity, Yield and Irrigated area also increase, availability of agriculture scientists, availability of Agriculture research institutes, availability of Agriculture technology and notable changes occurred in Indian Agriculture and allied sector, even though some states are not received sufficient institutional credit resources from central government The share of institutional credit to small and marginal farmers as well as eastern and north eastern regions is very low. Therefore, special efforts are needed to extend institutional credit facilities to small and marginal farmers and central, eastern and northeastern regions. In addition, in order to sustain and improve growth in agricultural sector, the Commission recommends that Scheme of interest subvention should be extended to investment credit to improve capital formation in agriculture and allied sectors.

In a world where Africa's mobile money platforms account for 70% of global transactions-processing more than $1 trillion per year-a clear paradox persists: 1.4 billion individuals in Latin America and Southeast Asia are still excluded from formal banking. This study addresses a critical question: what enabled Kenya's M-Pesa to reach 80% of adults, and how might this approach bridge the inclusion gap in other countries, such as Brazil's cash-dependent favelas or Indonesia's fractured archipelago? We investigate the anatomy of fintech dissemination using comparative policy analysis and adoption barrier modeling in Kenya, Brazil, and Indonesia. Our findings show that M-Pesa's success was not just technological, but also institutional-built on light-touch regulation that empowered telcos, dense agent networks with liquidity guarantees, and easy onboarding. Brazil's Pix, despite its technical brilliance, barely reaches 40% of favela people, owing to bank-centric administration and identity obstacles. Complex KYC laws and limited agent density in Eastern Indonesia lock fishers in a cash economy, resulting in a 22% loss of income due to transaction inefficiencies. Crucially, we demonstrate that Africa's paradigm can be transferred-but not through repetition. Success necessitates contextsensitive adaptation: regulators must replace rigidity with tiered KYC standards, policymakers must create viable agent ecosystems, and institutions must embrace South-South collaboration. This study provides a strategy for changing mobile money from a niche innovation to a universal utility, demonstrating that when ecosystems work together, finance flows like water.

USD Coin (USDC) is one of the most widely used fiat-backed stablecoins, representing a bridge between traditional finance and blockchain systems. This paper analyzes the architecture, governance, risks, and recovery mechanisms of USDC, including custodial, smart contract, market, and on-chain transfer risks. A comparative perspective with Bitcoin and Ethereum highlights differences in failure modes and recoverability.

This study presents a bibliometric and thematic analysis of economic convergence analysis from 1982 to 2025, based on a corpus of 2924 Scopus-indexed articles. Using VOSviewer and the bibliometrix R package, this research maps the field's intellectual structure, identifying five main thematic clusters: (1) formal statistical models, (2) institutional-contextual approaches, (3) theoretical-statistical foundations, (4) nonlinear historical dynamics, and (5) normative and policy assessments. These reflect a shift from descriptive to explanatory and prescriptive frameworks, with growing integration of sustainability, spatial analysis, and institutional factors. The most productive journals include Journal of Econometrics (121 articles), Applied Economics (117), and Journal of Cleaner Production (81), while seminal contributions by Quah, Im et al., and Levin et al. anchor the co-citation network. International collaboration is significant, with 25.99% of publications involving crosscountry co-authorship, particularly in European and North American networks. The field has grown at a compound annual rate of 14.4%, accelerating after 2000 and peaking in 2022-2024, indicating sustained academic interest. These findings highlight the maturation of convergence analysis as a multidisciplinary domain. Practically, this study underscores the value of composite indicators and spatial econometric models for monitoring regional, environmental, and technological convergence-offering policymakers tools for inclusive growth, climate resilience, and innovation strategies. Moreover, the emergence of clusters around sustainability and digital transformation reveals fertile ground for future research at the intersection of transitions in energy, digital, and institutional domains and sustainable development (a broader sense of structural change).

The issue of financial literacy is critical in determining the way people in India make personal investment choices. This paper explores the present situation in financial literacy in India, how it connects to investment preferences and policy efforts to enhance financial education. Based on the use of secondary sources and illustrative data, the study demonstrates that increased financial literacy correlates with an increase in the degree of risk-taking, diversification of portfolios, and financial performance. They give policy recommendations that would enhance financial education in India.

European Union, the paper analyses the status of financial literacy for people living in East European countries, the way to increase financial knowledge through financial education and finally leading to a higher and more effective financial inclusion. Economic gaps are a major challenge for Eastern European countries. Their recovery can be done through efficient public policies harmonized with actions to increase the degree of financial education of the population. Policy makers, public institutions and non-profit organisation involved in financial education matters can benefit from this analysis and conclusion just as much as researchers.

Artificial intelligence is disrupting the financial sector globally. Artificial intelligence will also affect financial regulation and financial system stability in several ways. Little is known about how artificial intelligence might affect the stability of the financial system. Using a contextual framework and discourse analysis methodology, this article identifies some risks that artificial intelligence could pose to financial system stability in Nigeria. The study focused on how AI risks affect those directly involved in financial stability work in Nigeria. If these risks are mitigated, the adoption of AI for financial stability work will yield positive benefits for financial stability in Nigeria.

Open Economy Ontology (OEO) is the application of the best practices of openness to the field of economics in a world wide web (WWW) semantic web ontology (SWO). It was developed through my decades of cooperation with the most respected international open finance institutions since my participation in the Cluetrain movement up to my policymaking in the United Nations Economics Commission for Europe (UNECE) and was compiled for my consultancies for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) eWeek. Its purpose is to establish rule of law (RoL) standards for the community development of fair trade online and physical stores for heritage sites, ecomuseums, laboratories, and educational institutions virtual and sustainable tiny products, so generating a whole new tiny stores worldwide market dimension.

Credit risk assessment remains one of the most critical challenges for financial institutions, particularly in emerging markets where reliable credit histories and structured financial data are often limited. Traditional credit scoring models, such as logistic regression, tend to perform poorly in these environments due to data scarcity, informality of financial records, and structural differences in borrower behavior. In this paper, we investigate the application of machine learning (ML) models-including Random Forest, XGBoost, and Neural Networks-for predicting credit risk in emerging markets. Using a representative dataset of small and medium-sized enterprises, we benchmark ML models against traditional statistical methods, evaluating their performance through accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, and ROC-AUC metrics. Our findings suggest that ML models significantly outperform conventional approaches, particularly in handling nonlinearities and class imbalances. Moreover, interpretability tools such as SHAP values reveal the relative importance of features like cash-flow ratios, repayment history, and alternative data sources such as utility and mobile payment records. Beyond technical performance, this study highlights the policy implications of adopting ML-driven credit risk systems in emerging markets: improving financial inclusion, reducing information asymmetry, but also raising concerns about fairness, data privacy, and transparency. The results contribute to both academic literature and practical decision-making by demonstrating that machine learning can be a powerful tool for sustainable credit expansion in contexts where traditional models fall short.

This study was conducted to test and understand the impact of digitalization and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) on the accumulation of social capital in society. The digitalization variable was chosen considering that the business world has begun to enter the industrial era 4.0 massively and on a large scale. The change in business models from conventional to digital has also changed the face of MSMEs in their business operations. Meanwhile, CSR was chosen as part of a business's decision to be involved in creating a sustainable business. Social capital is the dependent variable because social capital is a determining element in how a business can run because the basis of social capital is trust, which is an absolute requirement for a business and economy to run. MSMEs were chosen because they are the business group that interacts the most with the community both in terms of quantity and quality. This study will use a quantitative method through a survey using a social capital questionnaire that has been launched by the World Bank, coupled with interviews with respondents as triangulation. Through this study, the researcher hopes that MSMEs can increasingly adapt to digitalization conditions and participate in sustainability development.

Though the mobile money industry is growing with a significant potential of enhancing financial inclusion and economic growth, mobile money services face a critical challenge of improving service quality to attract and retain customers. This article examines the drivers of a customer’s choice of a mobile money agent for a mobile money service in Kampala. Specifically, the study explores the effect of courtesy and efficiency of mobile money agents as well as cleanliness of their business premises. The analysis is based on data of 188 mobile money agents and customers across all mobile money service providers in Uganda. The study adopted a crosssectional survey method using a mixed methods research approach. The data was collected through a questionnaire and face-to-face interviews. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and the linear regression model was fitted to determine the significant drivers for customers’ choice of a mobile money agent. Descriptive statistics indicate...

Debt literacy, a crucial aspect of financial literacy, measures the ability of individuals to understand the technical and contractual issues relevant to debt. This study, "Impact of Demographics, loan limit and borrowing patterns on Debt Literacy in Bharatpur", describes the debt literacy among the borrowers at Bharatpur Metropolitan City, Nepal and examines the impact of demographics, loan limit and borrowing pattern. Despite the growth in access to formal credits as presented by United Nation Capital Development Fund & International Finance Corporation (2023), there is significant gap in academic research that discusses on how well the borrowers understand the terms and conditions associated with the debt agreements that they agreed to get credit facility. This study examines the impact of education qualification, age, gender, professional status, monthly income, residential status, subscribed loan limit and borrowing pattern (multiple banking) on debt literacy of borrowers at Bharatpur Metropolitan City, Nepal. This study adopts quantitative research approach using structured set of survey questionnaires and simple random sampling to collect data from 100 borrowers. Descriptive Statistics was used to reach to the debt literacy score. Regression analysis has been used to examine the impact of demographics, loan limit, and borrowing pattern on debt literacy. The result from descriptive statistics shows a mean score of 2.51 for debt literacy hinting many borrowers are unaware or lacks confidence in their understanding of debt related issues. Regression analysis showed that education qualification, professional status and gender have significant positive impact on the debt literacy of borrowers. To improve the borrowers' debt literacy, campaigns relevant to debt literacy should be organized targeting nonprofessionals, borrowers with lower educational qualifications, and female borrower.

A mathematical method for ensuring data integrity in digital communication involves encoding messages as the coefficients of a polynomial. This technique leverages the principle that a polynomial of a certain degree is uniquely defined by a specific number of points. By transmitting more points on the polynomial curve than are strictly necessary, a structured redundancy is created to guard against corruption. If an error corrupts a transmitted data point, it will no longer lie on the original curve. The location of this error can be identified efficiently by analyzing the finite differences of the received data, which serve as the discrete analog to a polynomial's derivatives. For example, a corrupted point in a sequence sampled from a quadratic polynomial will cause a localized disruption in the otherwise constant second finite difference, allowing for detection and subsequent correction of the data.

This article examines the critical role of civil registration in enhancing national security and stability in Somalia. Grounded in the theory of governance and state-building, the study emphasizes the importance of accurate civil registration systems in establishing identity, promoting accountability, and enabling effective governance. Employing a mixed-methods approach, it integrates qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys, engaging stakeholders including government officials, NGOs, and community leaders. The findings reveal that the findings from the study indicate a strong recognition of the importance of civil registration among participants, with 90% acknowledging its role in preventing fraud and 85% providing its significance in enhancing identity verification. Despite the recognized importance of civil registration, significant challenges persist. Security concerns were identified by 85% of participants as a major barrier to effective civil registration in Somalia. The benefits of civil registration are significant, with 82% of participants recognizing its role in improving health outcomes. Participants also unveiled economic development (78%) and enhanced legal rights (76%) as significant advantages of civil registration. Participants offered several recommendations for enhancing civil registration, with 88% emphasizing the need to increase public awareness. Strengthening security measures (80%) was also deemed important, reflecting a widespread recognition that effective governance requires a secure environment where citizens feel safe to participate in civil processes. It is conclude that civil registration plays a vital role in enhancing national security and stability in Somalia, serving as an important mechanism for identity verification, resource allocation, and community trust. The findings of this study unveil the profound implications of a good civil registration system, particularly in a context characterized by insecurity and fragmented governance. The challenges faced by Somalia's civil registration system is stemming from decades of conflict and instability. The lack of centralized governance has led to inconsistent practices and significant gap in public awareness regarding the importance of civil registration. It was recommended that to realize the potential benefits of civil registration, comprehensive strategies should implemented to strengthen these systems. The government should prioritize investments in civil registration infrastructure to ensure accessibility and reliability. The government, along with NGOs and community leaders, should conduct outreach programs that inform citizens about the importance of registering vital events. Collaboration between government bodies, NGOs, and international organizations can enhance the effectiveness of civil registration efforts. Finally, enhancing Somalia's civil registration system is imperative for the nation's security, governance, and social cohesion.

This study investigates how demographic factors-specifically income, gender, and occupation-shape the financial decisionmaking behaviors of three generational cohorts (Gen-X, Gen-Y, and Gen-Z) in urban Indonesia, focusing on Jakarta, Bandung, and Surabaya. Using a quantitative approach, data were collected through an online survey of 381 respondents and analyzed with Kruskal-Wallis and ANCOVA tests. Results indicate that income level significantly influences financial decision-making (p < .05), with higher-income individuals exhibiting more informed choices. While gender and occupation do not show overall significant effects, women and Gen-Y display relatively stronger saving discipline and discount awareness, though these differences are descriptive rather than statistically conclusive. City-level comparisons reveal that Jakarta respondents demonstrate more consistent saving and timely payment behaviors compared to Bandung and Surabaya. A novel aspect of this study is the application of ribbon chart visualizations, which provide clearer insights into intergenerational and intercity financial behavior patterns. Theoretically, the findings contribute to behavioral accounting by highlighting the pivotal role of income and contextual demographic factors in shaping financial decisions. Practically, they inform financial advisors and policymakers in designing income-sensitive and locally tailored financial education and advisory programs.

The purpose of this paper is to empirically test the moderating effect of agency banking in the relationship between respondents for the study. Descriptive and PLS-SEM were used to analyze the data. Results revealed that electronic banking and agency banking has a positive and significant relationship with customer satisfaction. Also a significant positive relationship exists for the moderator variable (agency banking) in the relationship between electronic banking and customer satisfaction. The effect of electronic banking on customer satisfaction was positive and significant this means that there was need for banks and agents to additionally invest in the service equipment and improve the visual appearance of the points of service. In addition, control variable (s) such as bank size, bank age, etc. can also be considered by future researchers.

India's growing energy demands and its commitments to address climate change, faces a critical need to transition towards green energy sources. This paper explores the complex landscape of public awareness and acceptance of green energy in India. Through a public survey on the green energy awareness and acceptance, we examine the factors shaping public perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors towards green energy, identify key challenges and opportunities, and discuss strategies for promoting wider adoption of sustainable energy solutions. Based on a poll approximately seventy people, this study looks at popular knowledge and acceptance of green energy in India. Important factors under investigation are knowledge of renewable energy ideas, support of green energy projects, government policy familiarity, and perceived obstacles to implementing green energy. The results show a strong self-reported awareness of renewable energy and generally favorable opinions of the significance of green energy for the future of India. Mentioning advantages for mitigating climate change and economic development, around 95% of respondents support the use of green energy sources in India. With high initial cost and lack of knowledge each mentioned by 31% of respondents as the main obstacles to adoption, only 19% now use any green energy at home despite this substantial support. Respondents showed some familiarity with government renewable energy projects (e.g., National Solar Mission, PM Surya Ghar solar plan), but there still gaps in thorough understanding. These results complement the body of current research stressing low public knowledge and information gaps in India. The report ends with suggestions for focused awareness efforts, improved information sharing, and expanded incentive schemes meant to raise the acceptance of green energy solutions. Reducing important issues and raising public awareness would help India move toward a more sustainable energy future.

This study investigate the requirements for a successful cashless policy and its implications in the Nigeria economy and the federal capital territory( FCT) in particular. The study population was 2527 registered company owners and bankers. This population is obtained from the CBN's Statistics Research Department of december 2022. To meet the study's aims, the opinions of this group of people were thoroughly polled through a sample of 400 respondents. The questionnaires used in the study were designed with three Likert-scale alternatives of Agreed, Disagreed, and Undecided. The researcher used descriptive statistic method; basic percentage, and Chi-square (x2) statistics was applied in the analysis. The requirements for a successful cashless policy in Nigeria and FCT in particular are suitable network infrastructures, adequate electronic transaction security, a sufficient literacy level, and a sufficient legal system to contain cashless transaction fraud. The cashless policy in Nigeria has some significant implications in Nigeria which include: Increased unemployment by reducing the number of staff in the financial sector, it involves the use of high electronic network infrastructures and technology that Nigeria is yet to account for, it has increased consumers expenditure through an increase in cashless services charges, it has spur loss of capital through cyber fraud and discourages savings as the use of ATM cards and other cashless technologies guarantee a prompt use of cash and Conservative bank will have to take the part of innovation to fit into Cashless system which is might not be instantly realistic. The cashless policy regimes in Nigeria has altered the volume and value of Cleared bank Cheques and interbank funds transfers. The study recommend that the government should make adequate budgetary provisions for network infrastructures systems necessary for cashless transactions in Nigeria, such as electronic transaction Security Systems, public enlightenment campaigns to encourage conservatives to participate in innovation that fits into the Cashless system and provide a sufficient Legal System necessary for cashless transactions in Nigeria and the F.C.T in particular.