POSTPONED: The contribution of digital financial services to financial inclusion in Mozambique

On 19 November 2020, Carla Fernades, researcher at the University of Eduardo Mondlane, will discuss her latest research on the contribution of digital financial services to financial inclusion in Mozambique. 

The presentation is based on the reseach article ‘The contribution of digital financial services to financial inclusion in Mozambique: an ARDL model approach’.  

The presentation will be in Portuguese. 

To join the seminar and take part in the discussion, register here. By registering, you agree to be added to UNU-WIDER’s customer relationship management system under the Institute’s terms and conditions (Privacy statement and Disclaimer). 

Please note that the presentations will be recorded. The presentation slides and the recording will be shared with the seminar participants soon after the event. 

About the research 

This paper analyses the contribution of digital financial services to financial inclusion in Mozambique, based on the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model, for the period from January 2011 to September 2019. We study two models to analyse the contribution of digital financial services to financial inclusion (measured by the number of bank accounts) in Mozambique. The first model uses traditional digital means of payments as independent variables, such as the volume of financial transactions through automated teller machines (ATMs), point-of-sales (POSs), electronic transfers of inter and intrabank funds, direct debit, and domestic and cross-border remittances. The second model considers innovative digital means of payments, such as internet banking, mobile banking and electronic money. We conclude that, excluding domestic remittances and direct debit, which present low levels of penetration in the country, and internet banking transactions, the remaining variables contribute to financial inclusion. Our results confirm the crucial role that digital financial services play in financial inclusion, particularly in improving access to and the use of services by the under-served population.  

About the IGM Seminar Series 

The online IGM Seminar Series provides a space to discuss research themes with a focus on the challenges of promoting inclusive growth in Mozambique at a time of overlapping crises: the economic and financial crisis of hidden debt, the climate crisis, and the global health crisis.