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Financial inclusion in Africa: does it promote entrepreneurship?

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  • Folorunsho M. Ajide

Abstract

Purpose - Financial inclusion policy focuses on bringing the less privileged groups into the formal financial system. Financial inclusion has a lot of benefits in the society. It can reduce the level of poverty, inequality and encourage business startup. This study aims to examine the impact of financial inclusion on entrepreneurship in selected African countries. Design/methodology/approach - This paper examines how financial inclusion impacts entrepreneurship in 13 selected African countries using data from World Bank Development Indicators, IMF’s International Financial Statistics, doing business and World Bank Entrepreneurship Survey for the period of 2005-2016. It uses panel data regression techniques such as random effect, IV estimation and robust least square. Findings - The results show that financial inclusion has a significant and positive effect on entrepreneurship in Africa. This result is robust to both alternative measures of financial inclusion and alternative estimators. Originality/value - The possible relationship between financial inclusion and entrepreneurial development has been an ongoing debate in other developing countries. However, this issue has been neglected in the African region. There are little or no evidence to support the possible relationship in Africa. This paper makes an important contribution in this respect and further provides insightful information in the ongoing debate.

Suggested Citation

  • Folorunsho M. Ajide, 2020. "Financial inclusion in Africa: does it promote entrepreneurship?," Journal of Financial Economic Policy, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 12(4), pages 687-706, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:eme:jfeppp:jfep-08-2019-0159
    DOI: 10.1108/JFEP-08-2019-0159
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Yang, Xiaolan & Huang, Yidong & Gao, Mei, 2022. "Can digital financial inclusion promote female entrepreneurship? Evidence and mechanisms," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    2. Usman Alhassan, 2023. "E-government and the impact of remittances on new business creation in developing countries," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 56(1), pages 181-214, February.
    3. Romero-Castro, N. & López-Cabarcos, M.A. & Piñeiro-Chousa, J., 2023. "Finance, technology, and values: A configurational approach to the analysis of rural entrepreneurship," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    4. Ajide Folorunsho M., 2021. "Financial Inclusion and Labour Market Participation of Women in Selected Countries in Africa," Economics and Culture, Sciendo, vol. 18(1), pages 15-31, June.
    5. Liu, Aiping & Urquía-Grande, Elena & López-Sánchez, Pilar & Rodríguez-López, Ángel, 2023. "Research into microfinance and ICTs: A bibliometric analysis," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    6. Nkambule, Maxwell Banele, 2022. "The financial inclusion status of rural households in Eswatini," Research Theses 334766, Collaborative Masters Program in Agricultural and Applied Economics.
    7. Antonella Francesca Cicchiello & Amirreza Kazemikhasragh & Stefano Monferrá & Alicia Girón, 2021. "Financial inclusion and development in the least developed countries in Asia and Africa," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 10(1), pages 1-13, December.
    8. M. Ajide, Folorunsho, 2020. "Asymmetric Influence Of Financial Development On Unemployment In Nigeria," Ilorin Journal of Economic Policy, Department of Economics, University of Ilorin, vol. 7(2), pages 39-52, June.
    9. Folorunsho M. Ajide & James T. Dada, 2023. "Poverty, entrepreneurship, and economic growth in Africa," Poverty & Public Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 15(2), pages 199-226, June.
    10. Abdul Jalloh*, Mamoud, 2023. "Determinants Of Financial Inclusion In Sierra Leone: Evidence From Findex Surveys," Ilorin Journal of Economic Policy, Department of Economics, University of Ilorin, vol. 10(1), pages 32-45, June.
    11. Aarakit, Sylvia Manjeri & Ntayi, Joseph M. & Wasswa, Francis & Buyinza, Faisal & Adaramola, Muyiwa S. & Ssennono, Vincent F., 2022. "The role of financial inclusion in adoption of solar photovoltaic systems: A case of Uganda," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 984-998.
    12. Isaac Koomson & Raymond Elikplim Kofinti & Esther Laryea, 2024. "Financial inclusion and multidimensional child poverty," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 22(1), pages 237-260, March.
    13. Wen Wu & Leow Hon-Wei & Siyao Yang & Iskandar Muda & Zhaoyi Xu, 2023. "Nexus between financial inclusion, workers’ remittances, and unemployment rate in Asian economies," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    14. Mohammed Seid Hussen & Mustafe Abdi Mohamed, 2023. "Impact of financial inclusion on household welfare in Ethiopia," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 9(1), pages 1-12, December.

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