East asia pacific south asia

Tax Digitalization in Indonesia: Success Factors and Pathways Forward

This paper sets out pathways forward to help realize the full potential of digitalization, with specific and practical recommendations.

BSP Holds Digital Payments Leaders Summit as the Country Moves Closer to a Cash-lite Economy

Near-term impact of India’s demonetization

New Harvard University paper looks at the impact of demonetization on the Indian economy. It finds that, in the near-term, the event led to “temporary reductions in employment, output, and credit.” But “there may be potential longer-term benefits” in several areas, including tax collection.

bKash: Revolutionizing Mobile Financial Services in Bangladesh?

This study discusses the emergence of bKash as the m-banking pioneer in Bangladesh. It focuses on the services provided by bKash and its current operating scenario in Bangladesh. bKash’s str…

The Ups and Downs of India’s Digital Transformation

Indian economy is operating at an estimated $33 billion less cash than it would have without demonetization. Income tax buoyancy is at a decade high of 2.20. This Harvard Business Review art…

Bridging the Digital Divide and Supporting Increased Digital Trade: Scoping Study

The global economy is experiencing important technological shifts, with the rise of digital technology a key driver. This can be seen today in the rapid growth of the digital economy, broadl…

Governments can use digital financial technologies to fight corruption

Financial technology business model as branchless banking for people in rural areas: Case study: Indonesia

This study designs business models for electronic payment services, utilizing the principle of branchless banking and reviewing relevant aspects of IT risk management, for rural area communities in Indonesia.

Bringing E-money to the Poor: Successes and Failures

This report examines the successful lessons from Kenya, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Thailand case studies of “gazelles", that leapt from limitation to innovation by successfully enabling the deployment of e-money technology.

China Breakthroughs: Pay it forward on cashless society

China cashing out as mobile payment soars (The Business Times)

China cashing out as mobile payment soars (AFP)

Accelerating Financial Inclusion in South-East Asia with Digital Finance

Focussing on women, and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the paper highlights that digital financial solutions could play a significant part in closing gaps in financial inclusion and povides insights from Indonesia, Philippines, Cambodia, and Myanmar.

Alipay, WeChat Near $3 Trillion

UN Report: Social Network Payments Now Reach Nearly US$3 Trillion in China

Decade Edition of the State of the Industry Report on Mobile Money

The report charts the story of mobile money covering a decade of progress, industry lessons,impact and the future of the industry.

Mobile Banking Operations and Banking Facilities to Rural People in Bangladesh

The paper estabishes that mobile applications are well positioned in Bangladesh’s m-commerce market and are capable of driving sales of high-end mobile phones while providing better services to the users.

Country Diagnostic: Bangladesh

This Diagnostic Report shows Bangladesh is making significant strides toward a digital economy, and outlines specific policy measures that can underpin further digitization of payments into the future.

Introducing GSM-enabled PAYG Solar in Cambodia

The report tracks the implementation of a Cambodian company Kamwork’s pay-as-you-go (PAYG) solar home systems (SHSs) with GSM-based machine-to- machine (M2M) connectivity to validate the business model and determine what level of support from GSM network coverage.

Can electronic tax invoicing improve tax compliance?

This paper defines Republic of Korea’s motivation for Electronic Tax Invoicing (ETI), the implementation process, the legal and regulatory regimes, lessons learned, and future challenges for tax policy makers and tax authorities in developing countries.