The daily financial lives of the poor are, without doubt, immensely complex. Irregular, uneven income streams are frequently unable to meet recurring and emergency expenses. Savings deposits and insurance schemes are almost non-existent, and reliance on credit is high. These credit instruments in turn are multifaceted; low-income populations diversify their Read more…
We are now in the process of analyzing data from last summer’s fieldwork on mobile phone use and money practices (conducted by Ishita Ghosh and Aisha Kigongo – with remote support thanks to Skype and Dropbox from Jenna Burrell). A standard schema of categorization when trying to understand the personal Read more…
This post continues the conversation that was started here: Vulnerability, Markets, and Insurance in Ghana. There is a particular event that occurred during my fieldwork in Uganda that is a reminder of how lower-income populations may be prone to natural as well as cultivated risks. We met a second-hand apparel Read more…
Note: Three members of our team (Ishita Ghosh, Jenna Burrell, and Janaki Srinivasan) attended the IMTFI conference Dec 5th-7th at UC-Irvine as recipients of IMTFI research grants. This year’s annual conference at the Institute of Money, Technology & Financial Inclusion (IMTFI) showcased projects from around the world. While attending the conference, Read more…
This post continues the conversation that we started here: Branding in Branchless Banking If you find yourself in East Africa, India, the Philippines, Brazil, South Africa, and a host of developing countries around the world, you will be able to remit money over the mobile platform at a local retail agent’s Read more…
M-BANKING IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD Imagine you have just migrated from the state of Bihar to the glamorous, full of promise, chaotic capital of New Delhi. You have moved so that you can earn more money and therefore, provide a better life for your loved ones. But how do you Read more…