Access to Financial Services

Beck, Thorsten ; Demirgü ; ç ; -Kunt, Asli ; Honohan, Patrick

World Bank

关键词: access to finance;    access to financial services;    allocation of funds;    economic growth;    financial depth;   

RP-ID  :  1

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

In many developing countries less than half the population has access to formal financial services, and in most of Africa less than one in five households has access. Lack of access to finance is often the critical mechanism for generating persistent income inequality, as well as slower economic growth. Hence expanding access remains an important challenge across the world, leaving much for governments to do. However, not all government actions are equally effective and some policies can even be counterproductive. This paper sets out principles for effective government policy on broadening access, drawing on the available evidence and illustrating with examples. The paper concludes with directions for future research.