India

Government of India, FICCI, and UN-based Better Than Cash Alliance come together for responsible merchant digitization in the North East, Himalayan Regions and Aspirational Districts

COVID-19: Making the case for robust digital financial infrastructure

In this report, the relationship between financial infrastructure and the performance of disbursement programs in their design ambition and how well they delivered is assessed.

India and UN-Based Better Than Cash Alliance organized a joint Peer learning exchange on fintech solutions for responsible digital payments at the last mile

25 years since Beijing – Spotlight on women!

In this edition of the newsletter, we applaud the leadership of Alliance members in the Philippines, Ghana and India who are ensuring that women can gain economic independence through digitization.

Véronique Tognifodé conduit la délégation béninoise en Inde

How to improve adoption among merchants

This study finds that perceived value addition for the customers and usefulness of technology are important determinants of adoption of mobile wallet technology among merchants. 

How we advanced SDGs in 2019!

Four ways our Alliance advanced progress towards Sustainable Development Goals this year!

Impact of demonetization on diffusion of mobile payment service in India: Antecedents of behavioral intention and adoption using extended UTAUT model

The paper shows that behavioral intention, demonetization and facilitating conditions have a positive impact on the adoption of mobile payment services in India.

How greater financial control impacts gender norms

New NBER paper finds that transferring money directly into women’s accounts and providing them financial training led to their increased participation in the labor force.

How to create modern G2P payment systems

New CGAP focus note explores the core idea behind future-ready G2P payments, lays out its advantages and challenges, and describes how governments can create modern G2P payments systems. It draws heavily from ongoing efforts in Bangladesh, India, Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia.

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.

Drivers of digital payments

This study shows that per capita income, education, availability of digital infrastructure and greater internet penetration help in the growth of digital payments in an economy. For India, it suggests that the government should focus on providing a conducive macroeconomic environment and safe and easy access to digital infrastructure.

Digital payments and Public Financial Management

A new Center for Global Development policy paper, published in collaboration with the Overseas Development Institute and the Better Than Cash Alliance, explores the linkages between digitalization of payments and effective PFM systems.

Role of education in financial inclusion of women 

Columbia University paper finds that even when they are given the opportunity, many of India’s poor women opt out of actively engaging with the formal banking institutions. It finds that education is a significant determinant in shaping the financial decisions of India’s poor women.

Using technology to improve agent models

This CGDev study sets out to understand the effectiveness of reforms taken by Andhra Pradesh to digitalize service delivery. It identifies access, accountability, choice, and voice as the four principles underlying the digital reforms there.

The Effect of Payment Choices on Online Retail: Evidence from the 2016 Indian Demonetization

This Harvard Business School paper concludes that consumers who switch to digital payments maintain their purchase frequency but spend more and are less likely to return their purchases.

Distributed Ledger Technology and Digital Identity: Prospects and Pitfalls Ahead

Blockchain Series: Blog 4…

Public Financial Management and the Digitalization of Payments

Joint report by the Better Than Cash Alliance, the Center for Global Development, and the Overseas Development Institute, building on work with the International Monetary Fund in 2017.

Telecom vs. banking-led models of financial inclusion 

Low incomes, costs incurred in account ownership, distance from a bank, financial illiteracy and lack of relevant documentation explain low levels of financial inclusion in both India and Africa. In this brief, experts from the Overseas Development Institute discuss what both regions can learn from each other’s efforts to tackle these issues.