Financial Inclusion in South Asia—Relative Standing, Challenges and Initiatives

Mukta Mani

South Asian Survey, 2016, vol. 23, issue 2, 158-179

Abstract: Financial Inclusion is eminent for sustained growth in South Asia. This study is an attempt to measure and comparatively analyze the levels of financial inclusion in South Asian countries. On the basis of eighty-nine parameters, it is found that the situation of financial inclusion in South Asia is modest as compared to other regions of the world. The usage of banking services, use of debit and credit cards, bank-borrowing, deposit of savings is at low levels. The use of e-banking is also extremely low; however, the mobile-banking is picking up. The gender bias is high in most of the countries as there are more male users as compared to female users. Many initiatives are being taken to promote financial inclusion and the situation has also improved data-wise, but there is still is a long way to go. This study is distinguished in providing a comparative picture of South Asian countries.

Keywords: Financial inclusion; South Asia; economic development; banking services; mobile banking (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:soasur:v:23:y:2016:i:2:p:158-179

DOI: 10.1177/0971523118783353

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