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Indigenous knowledge and digital financial inclusion: a comparison between Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa

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  • Emilie Bonhoure

Abstract

M-Pesa is one leading example of mobile money services. It reveals the importance of digital financial inclusion (DFI) in countries still largely unbanked, and of institutional factors in shaping DFI. Yet, extant research has not investigated the combined effect of these factors, informal (indigenous knowledge) and formal (regulatory) institutions, on DFI. This study intends to do so leveraging the institutional theory and applying regression techniques to data from 1000 digital-finance users. It reveals different effects of institutional factors across regions. In Europe, strong formal institutions shape DFI. In Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), weak institutions combined with high indigenous knowledge increase DFI. These findings are crucial for countries’ development, as financial inclusion is considered a key enabler of several SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). They could help adapt financial-inclusion programs by including the indigenous-knowledge component in countries facing weak formal institutions, to maximize their chances of success in fostering development and growth.

Suggested Citation

  • Emilie Bonhoure, 2025. "Indigenous knowledge and digital financial inclusion: a comparison between Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa," Information Technology for Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(2), pages 251-279, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:titdxx:v:31:y:2025:i:2:p:251-279
    DOI: 10.1080/02681102.2024.2384716
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