Finance for Inclusive Growth

ECON 1088 Subject & Catalog Number

Description

Over the past decade, access to financial services has expanded by 50%, yet a quarter of adults globally still do not have access to a formal financial account. Why has it been so challenging to reach this population? What financial product innovations have worked for banking poor customers? How do the underbanked make do without access to the formal financial market? What opportunities and challenges are presented by the global rise of digital payments and fintech? This course investigates the functioning of the financial market for low-income populations, with a focus on developing countries. Example topics include: : 1) the link between financial market development and economic growth; 2) financial literacy and consumer protection; 3) savings and credit; 4) mobile banking and digital payments; 5) fintec. The course will cover relevant economic principles, business case studies, product design experiments, and research papers.