IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/padigm/v26y2022i2p155-173.html

Investigating the Dynamic Relationship Between Social Distancing Restrictions and the Adoption of Mobile Money Services in the Middle East: A Panel Data Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Ahmed Taher Esawe

Abstract

This article aims to investigate how social distancing restrictions can be a potential factor to effect on the adoption of mobile money services (MMS) using panel data from seven countries in the Middle East (Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Palestinian territories, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates) during the period from January to December 2020. Employing panel data analysis, the author uses various measures from the global mobile money dataset GSMA and Google Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Community Mobility Reports. The findings reveal that the social distancing restrictions have begun to play an essential part in the shift to cashless payment due to the epidemic and influence the adoption and use of MMS. The results also suggest that the social distancing restrictions affect consumer adoption of MMS and indirectly affect retailers. Unlike prevailing studies, this study is unique in empirically investigating the association between COVID-19 community mobility and MMS adoption. This study contributes to financial studies on MMS adoption under extreme settings.

Suggested Citation

  • Ahmed Taher Esawe, 2022. "Investigating the Dynamic Relationship Between Social Distancing Restrictions and the Adoption of Mobile Money Services in the Middle East: A Panel Data Analysis," Paradigm, , vol. 26(2), pages 155-173, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:padigm:v:26:y:2022:i:2:p:155-173
    DOI: 10.1177/09718907221112597
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/09718907221112597
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1177/09718907221112597?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Simplice A. Asongu & Jacinta C. Nwachukwu, 2018. "Recent finance advances in information technology for inclusive development: a systematic review," Netnomics, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 65-93, October.
    2. Agnieszka Huterska & Anna Iwona Piotrowska & Joanna Szalacha-Jarmużek, 2021. "Fear of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Social Distancing as Factors Determining the Change in Consumer Payment Behavior at Retail and Service Outlets," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-18, July.
    3. Ahmed Taher Esawe, 2022. "Exploring Retailers’ Behavioural Intentions Towards Using M-payment: Extending UTAUT with Perceived Risk and Trust," Paradigm, , vol. 26(1), pages 8-28, June.
    4. Simplice A. Asongu & Jacinta C. Nwachukwu, 2018. "Recent Financial Advances in Information Technology For Inclusive Development: A Systematic Review," Working Papers 2 4009, Office Of The Chief Economist, Development Bank of Nigeria.
    5. Ezinne M. Emeana & Liz Trenchard & Katharina Dehnen-Schmutz, 2020. "The Revolution of Mobile Phone-Enabled Services for Agricultural Development (m-Agri Services) in Africa: The Challenges for Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-27, January.
    6. T. S. Breusch & A. R. Pagan, 1980. "The Lagrange Multiplier Test and its Applications to Model Specification in Econometrics," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 47(1), pages 239-253.
    7. Ahmad Hassan Ahmad & Christopher Green & Fei Jiang, 2020. "Mobile Money, Financial Inclusion And Development: A Review With Reference To African Experience," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(4), pages 753-792, September.
    8. Jerry Hausman, 2015. "Specification tests in econometrics," Applied Econometrics, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), vol. 38(2), pages 112-134.
    9. Raymundo M. Campos-Vazquez & Gerardo Esquivel, 2021. "Consumption and geographic mobility in pandemic times. Evidence from Mexico," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 353-371, June.
    10. Tomasz Piotr Wisniewski & Michal Polasik & Radoslaw Kotkowski & Andrea Moro, 2024. "Switching from Cash to Cashless Payments during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond," International Journal of Central Banking, International Journal of Central Banking, vol. 20(3), pages 303-371, July.
    11. Hoda Mansour, 2021. "How successful countries are in promoting digital transactions during COVID-19," Journal of Economic Studies, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 49(3), pages 435-452, March.
    12. Ionela Voinea, 2020. "The banking system of emerging economies in Asia against the background of COVID-19. Case study – the ASEAN area," Journal of Financial Studies, Institute of Financial Studies, vol. 9(5), pages 134-146, November.
    13. Tonuchi Emmanuel Joseph, 2020. "How to Improve Mobile Money Service Usage and Adoption by Nigerians in the Era of Covid-19," International Journal of Finance, Insurance and Risk Management, International Journal of Finance, Insurance and Risk Management, vol. 10(3), pages 31-52.
    14. Hasanul Banna & Md Rabiul Alam & Rubi Ahmad & Norhanim Mat Sari, 2022. "Does Financial Inclusion Drive The Islamic Banking Efficiency? A Post-Financial Crisis Analysis," The Singapore Economic Review (SER), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 67(01), pages 135-160, March.
    15. Yousra Javed & Elham Al Qahtani & Mohamed Shehab, 2021. "Privacy Policy Analysis of Banks and Mobile Money Services in the Middle East," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-15, January.
    16. Vanesa Pesqué‐Cela & Lihui Tian & Deming Luo & Damian Tobin & Gerhard Kling, 2021. "Defining and measuring financial inclusion: A systematic review and confirmatory factor analysis," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(2), pages 316-341, March.
    17. Eduardo Polloni-Silva & Naijela da Costa & Herick Fernando Moralles & Mario Sacomano Neto, 2021. "Does Financial Inclusion Diminish Poverty and Inequality? A Panel Data Analysis for Latin American Countries," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 158(3), pages 889-925, December.
    18. Maren Duvendack & Philip Mader, 2020. "Impact Of Financial Inclusion In Low‐ And Middle‐Income Countries: A Systematic Review Of Reviews," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(3), pages 594-629, July.
    19. Nader Alber & Mohamed Dabour, 2020. "The Dynamic Relationship between FinTech and Social Distancing under COVID-19 Pandemic: Digital Payments Evidence," International Journal of Economics and Finance, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 12(11), pages 109-109, November.
    20. Tut, Daniel, 2023. "FinTech and the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from electronic payment systems," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    21. Isaac Akomea-Frimpong & Charles Andoh & Agnes Akomea-Frimpong & Yvonne Dwomoh-Okudzeto, 2019. "Control of fraud on mobile money services in Ghana: an exploratory study," Journal of Money Laundering Control, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 22(2), pages 300-317, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ahmad, Ahmad Hassan & Green, Christopher J. & Jiang, Fei & Murinde, Victor, 2023. "Mobile money, ICT, financial inclusion and growth: How different is Africa?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    2. Coffie, Cephas Paa Kwasi & Hongjiang, Zhao, 2023. "FinTech market development and financial inclusion in Ghana: The role of heterogeneous actors," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 186(PA).
    3. Vaishali Kamboj & Dipasha Sharma, 2025. "Mapping the landscape of digital financial inclusion and proposing integrative framework: trends, influential works, and future directions," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-19, December.
    4. R. V. Naveenan & Chee Yoong Liew & Ploypailin Kijkasiwat, 2024. "Nexus Between Financial Inclusion, Digital Inclusion and Health Outcomes: Evidence from Developing Economies," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 174(1), pages 367-408, August.
    5. Michel Krah & Michael Kouadio & Fabrice Anzara, 2026. "Public debt and economic growth in WAEMU countries: evidence on the moderating effect of governance," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 6(3), pages 1-22, March.
    6. Meghamrita Chakraborty, 2023. "Linking Migration, Diversity and Regional Development in India," Journal of Development Policy and Practice, , vol. 8(1), pages 55-72, January.
    7. Hany Eldemerdash & Hugh Metcalf & Sara Maioli, 2014. "Twin deficits: new evidence from a developing (oil vs. non-oil) countries’ perspective," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 47(3), pages 825-851, November.
    8. Huy Quang Doan, 2019. "Trade, Institutional Quality and Income: Empirical Evidence for Sub-Saharan Africa," Economies, MDPI, vol. 7(2), pages 1-23, May.
    9. Skoufias, Emmanuel, 1998. "Determinants of child health during the economic transition in Romania," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 26(11), pages 2045-2056, November.
    10. González, Maximiliano & Guzmán, Alexander & Pombo, Carlos & Trujillo, María Andréa, 2012. "Family involvement and dividend policy in listed and non-listed firms," Galeras. Working Papers Series 034, Universidad de Los Andes. Facultad de Administración. School of Management.
    11. McGovern, Mark E. & Rokicki, Slawa & Reichman, Nancy E., 2022. "Maternal depression and economic well-being: A quasi-experimental approach," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 305(C).
    12. A. Mahabbati & A. Izady & M. Mousavi Baygi & K. Davary & S. M. Hasheminia, 2017. "Daily soil temperature modeling using ‘panel-data’ concept," Journal of Applied Statistics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(8), pages 1385-1401, June.
    13. Vassilis Tselios, 2008. "Income and educational inequalities in the regions of the European Union: Geographical spillovers under welfare state restrictions," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 87(3), pages 403-430, August.
    14. Michele FRATIANNI & Chang HOON HO, 2007. "On the Relationship Between RTA Expansion and Openness," Working Papers 288, Universita' Politecnica delle Marche (I), Dipartimento di Scienze Economiche e Sociali.
    15. Mendieta-Aragón, Adrián & Rodríguez-Fernández, Laura & Navío-Marco, Julio, 2025. "Tourism usage of digital collaborative economy platforms in Europe: Situation, behaviours, and implications for the digital policies," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(1).
    16. Wilman-Santiago Ochoa-Moreno & Byron Alejandro Quito & Carlos Andrés Moreno-Hurtado, 2021. "Foreign Direct Investment and Environmental Quality: Revisiting the EKC in Latin American Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-18, November.
    17. Pardo Martínez, Clara Inés & Silveira, Semida, 2012. "Analysis of energy use and CO2 emission in service industries: Evidence from Sweden," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(7), pages 5285-5294.
    18. Aladejare, Samson Adeniyi, 2022. "Natural resource rents, globalisation and environmental degradation: New insight from 5 richest African economies," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    19. Skare, Marinko & Soriano, Domingo Riberio, 2021. "Technological and knowledge diffusion link: An international perspective 1870–2019," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    20. Furkan Demirtaş & Emine Kaya & Festus Victor Bekun & Mücahit Çitil & Mustafa Torusdağ & Abdulkadir Barut, 2025. "Do institutional quality and military expenditure of G20 countries affect green investments?," Energy & Environment, , vol. 36(6), pages 2639-2664, September.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:sae:padigm:v:26:y:2022:i:2:p:155-173. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.