AERC-SOAS Inclusive Financial Services Policy Platform 2021 | SOAS University of London | 8 September 2021 | Online Event

The digital finance revolution is in full swing. It is one of the mega trends in global finance today. Digital finance is revolutionising the role of financial institutions, the behaviour of financial markets and the scope of financial instruments in developing as well as developed economies. It is transforming our daily economic activity such as sending and receiving money, reshaping business models, facilitating financial inclusion and driving regulatory changes. Indeed, during COVID-19 and associated lockdown across the globe, digital finance has been the lifeboat for sustaining financial transactions and economic activity, especially in Africa and many developing economies. However, there are many serious gaps in knowledge, policy and practice that require urgent attention. For example, why is the diffusion of digital finance, especially FinTech, high in some countries and very low in others? In addition, notwithstanding the fact that the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the G20 High-Level Principles for Digital Financial Inclusion highlight the importance of digital financial exclusion in promoting inclusive growth and sustainable economic development, some research questions remain unanswered and innovations in policy and practice are urgently required. For instance, what policy initiatives are governments putting in place to ensure that digital finance supports the growth of the private sector in developing countries, or empower women through financial inclusion, or promote financial literacy, trust, and confidence?

The AERC-SOAS Inclusive Financial Services Policy Platform features new research findings on the above issues. The event is based on the ESRC research grant [No.ES/N013344/2] under DEGRP on “Delivering Inclusive Financial Development and Growth”. The event brings together key stakeholders who have important roles to play in shaping new research findings.