The African Financial Development and Financial Inclusion Gaps

37 Pages Posted: 20 Apr 2016

See all articles by Franklin Allen

Franklin Allen

Imperial College London

Elena Carletti

Bocconi University - Department of Finance; European University Institute - Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies (RSCAS)

Robert Cull

World Bank - Development Research Group (DECRG)

Jun "QJ" Qian

Fanhai International School of Finance, Fudan University

Lemma W. Senbet

University of Maryland - Robert H. Smith School of Business

Patricio Valenzuela

Universidad de los Andes, Chile

Date Written: September 1, 2014

Abstract

This paper investigates the African financial development and financial inclusion gaps relative to other peer developing countries. The paper uses a set of variables related to financial development and inclusion. It first estimates the gaps between African countries and other developing countries with similar degrees of economic development. Then, it explores the determinants of financial development and inclusion. The analysis finds that population density is considerably more important for financial development and inclusion in Africa than elsewhere. Finally, the paper shows evidence that a recent innovation in financial services, mobile banking, has helped to overcome infrastructural problems and improve financial access.

Keywords: Economic Theory & Research, Access to Finance, Emerging Markets, Debt Markets, E-Business

Suggested Citation

Allen, Franklin and Carletti, Elena and Cull, Robert and Qian, Jun and Senbet, Lemma W. and Valenzuela, Patricio, The African Financial Development and Financial Inclusion Gaps (September 1, 2014). World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 7019, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2491356

Franklin Allen (Contact Author)

Imperial College London ( email )

South Kensington Campus
Exhibition Road
London, Greater London SW7 2AZ
United Kingdom

Elena Carletti

Bocconi University - Department of Finance ( email )

Via Roentgen 1
Milano, MI 20136
Italy

European University Institute - Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies (RSCAS) ( email )

Villa La Fonte, via delle Fontanelle 18
50016 San Domenico di Fiesole
Florence, Florence 50014
Italy

Robert Cull

World Bank - Development Research Group (DECRG) ( email )

1818 H. Street, N.W.
MSN3-311
Washington, DC 20433
United States
202-473-6365 (Phone)
202-522-1155 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://econ.worldbank.org/staff/rcull

Jun Qian

Fanhai International School of Finance, Fudan University ( email )

Shanghai
China
86-21-63895501 (Phone)
86-21-62934572 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.fisf.fudan.edu.cn/show-65-69.html

Lemma W. Senbet

University of Maryland - Robert H. Smith School of Business ( email )

College Park, MD 20742-1815
United States
301-405-2242 (Phone)
301-405-0359 (Fax)

Patricio Valenzuela

Universidad de los Andes, Chile ( email )

Mons. Álvaro del Portillo
Las Condes
Santiago, 12.455
Chile

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
223
Abstract Views
1,364
Rank
248,431
PlumX Metrics