Financial technology has developed rapidly in many developing countries in the last decade. These innovations are increasing the need for research on the impact of financial technology on firms and individuals in developing countries. There are also important regulatory challenges which have critical impact on competition between suppliers and take-up by consumers, such as inter-operability of payment systems.
A two-day ERSA workshop will take place in Stellenbosch at the Devon Valley Hotel in September 2023, during which prominent academics working in the areas of Finance, Development Economics, Industrial Organization, and in other related fields will deliver presentations.
Keynote speaker: Prof. Sean Higgins (Kellogg School of Management)
Local organizer: Lucas Mariani (ERSA and University of Milano-Bicocca) & Lukasz Grzybowski (University of Cape Town)
Program
| Friday, 8th September | |
| 9:00-9:30 | Registration and Welcome Remarks |
| 9:30-11:00 | Session 1:
Chair: Lucas Argentieri Mariani (ERSA and University of Milano-Bicocca) |
| Elvis Avenyo (University of Johannesburg)
Determinants of digital technologies’ adoption in South African manufacturing: Evidence from a firm-level survey |
|
| Lucas Argentieri Mariani (ERSA and University of Milano-Bicocca)
Unleashing International Trade through Financial Integration: Evidence from a Cross- Border Payment System |
|
| 11:00-11.30 | Coffee Break |
| 11:30-13:00 | Keynote Session |
| Sean Higgins (Kellogg School of Management)
FinTech and Financial Inclusion |
|
| 13:00-14:00 | Lunch Break |
| 14:00-15:30 | Session 2:
Chair: Willem Boshoff (Stellenbosch University) |
| Onkokame Mothobi (University of Witwatersrand)
Interoperability between mobile money agents and choice of network operators: the case of Tanzania |
|
| Edward Asiedu (University of Ghana Business School)
Interoperability and Digital Financial Services: implication for vulnerable populations in Ghana |
|
| 16:00-18:15 | Session 3
Chair: Allan Davids (University of Cape Town) |
| Aisha Udochi (Howard University)
From Specious Statistics to Dependable Data: Constructing Retail Spending Estimates with Nigerian Transactions Data |
|
| Takwanisa Machemedze (University of Cape Town)
What luminosity data can and cannot reveal about South Africa’s urban economies? Discussant: Dieter von Fintel (Stellenbosch University) |
|
| Kalebe Kalebe (National University of Lesotho and University of Witwatersrand)
Bank competition and access to finance by firms in the Common Monetary Area of Southern Africa |
|
| 19:00-21:00 | Workshop Dinner |
| Saturday, 9th September | |
| 09:00-10:30 | Session 4:
Chair: Lukasz Grzybowski (University of Cape Town) |
| Zizipho Magula (Rhodes University)
Financial technology and bank risk-taking behaviour: A case of selected South African banks Discussant: Aneta Hryckiewicz (Said Business School and Kozminski University) |
|
| Aneta Hryckiewicz (Said Business School and Kozminski University)
Bank technological innovation and SME lending: do we experience a transformation in a bank-SME relationship? |
|
| 10:30-11.00 | Coffee Break |
| 11:00-13:15 | Session 5:
Chair: Michael Meyer (University of Pretoria and Stellenbosch University) |
| Ashish Sedai (University of Texas at Arlington)
Disentangling the Effects of Financial Inclusion on Household Well-Being |
|
| Robert Lensink (University of Groningen)
What might we forget? An experiment in South Africa showing when reminders may increase attention and decrease savings. |
|
| Mikael Paaso (Erasmus University Rotterdam)
Fintech as a Gateway to Finance Discussant: Ashish Sedai (University of Texas at Arlington) |
|
| 13:15-14:15 | Lunch Break |
| 14:15-15:45 | Session 6:
Chair: Ryan Hawthorne (Acacia Economics) |
| Mohammed Amidu (University of Ghana Business School)
Does access to digital financial services reduce COVID-19 exposure among the vulnerable? Empirical evidence from Ghana |
|
| El Mehdi Ferrouhi (Ibn Tofail University)
Factors influencing the adoption of mobile payment in Morocco Discussant: Lukasz Grzybowski (University of Cape Town) |
|
| 15:45-16:00 | Closing Remarks |
Conference Details
No workshop fee will be charged to attend or participate in the event. Economic Research South Africa (ERSA) will cover only the presenters’ accommodation and other local expenses. To attend, please sign up by 11 August 2023.
by 