{
  "title": "Financial Inclusion: What Have We Learned So Far? What Do We Have to Learn?",
  "publication": "IMF Working Papers, August 7, 2020",
  "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2020/08/07/financial-inclusion-what-have-we-learned-so-far-what-do-we-have-to-learn-49660",
  "canonical": "https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2020/08/07/financial-inclusion-what-have-we-learned-so-far-what-do-we-have-to-learn-49660",
  "overlayPath": "/en/publications/wp/issues/2020/08/07/financial-inclusion-what-have-we-learned-so-far-what-do-we-have-to-learn-49660/index.md",
  "summary": "The past two decades have seen a rapid increase in interest in financial inclusion, both from policymakers and researchers. This paper surveys the main findings from the literature, documenting the trends over time and gaps that have arisen across regions, income levels, and gender, among others.",
  "sections": [
    {
      "heading": "Main findings",
      "content": "- Interest in financial inclusion has increased over the past two decades.\n- The paper surveys the literature to document:\n  - trends over time; and\n  - gaps that have arisen across regions, income levels, and gender.\n- Structural and policy-related factors matter for inclusion:\n  - examples include encouraging banking competition and channeling government payments through bank accounts.\n- Financial inclusion can generate potential macroeconomic and microeconomic benefits.\n- Policy emphasis should be on identifying and reducing frictions holding back financial inclusion, rather than targeting specific levels of inclusion."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Policy implications and recommendations",
      "content": "- Prioritize removing frictions that inhibit inclusion (structural and policy-related), for example:\n  - promote banking competition; and\n  - channel government payments through bank accounts.\n- Avoid policies that focus solely on achieving specific numerical targets for inclusion levels; instead, focus on the underlying barriers."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Research gaps and agenda",
      "content": "- The paper identifies areas for future research, building on documented trends and gaps across:\n  - regions;\n  - income levels; and\n  - gender.\n- Further work is needed to better quantify the macro and microeconomic benefits and to evaluate which policies most effectively reduce frictions.\n\nIMF Working Paper by Adolfo Barajas, Thorsten Beck, and Mohammed Belhaj; August 7, 2020.\n\n---\n\n Content in this bundle\n\n- Working Paper\n  - Working Paper (Markdown version){rel=\"alternate\" type=\"text/markdown\"}\n  - Working Paper (PDF){rel=\"external\" type=\"application/pdf\"}\n\n---\n\nSource: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2020/08/07/financial-inclusion-what-have-we-learned-so-far-what-do-we-have-to-learn-49660"
    }
  ],
  "bullets": [
    "[Markdown version](/en/publications/wp/issues/2020/08/07/financial-inclusion-what-have-we-learned-so-far-what-do-we-have-to-learn-49660/index.md)",
    "[Structured JSON version](/en/publications/wp/issues/2020/08/07/financial-inclusion-what-have-we-learned-so-far-what-do-we-have-to-learn-49660/index.json)",
    "[Bundle manifest](/en/publications/wp/issues/2020/08/07/financial-inclusion-what-have-we-learned-so-far-what-do-we-have-to-learn-49660/bundle-manifest.json)",
    "Authors: Adolfo Barajas, Thorsten Beck, Mohammed Belhaj",
    "Published: August 7, 2020",
    "Series: IMF Working Papers",
    "DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781513553009.001",
    "Interest in financial inclusion has increased over the past two decades.",
    "The paper surveys the literature to document:",
    "Structural and policy-related factors matter for inclusion:",
    "Financial inclusion can generate potential macroeconomic and microeconomic benefits.",
    "Policy emphasis should be on identifying and reducing frictions holding back financial inclusion, rather than targeting specific levels of inclusion.",
    "Prioritize removing frictions that inhibit inclusion (structural and policy-related), for example:",
    "Avoid policies that focus solely on achieving specific numerical targets for inclusion levels; instead, focus on the underlying barriers.",
    "The paper identifies areas for future research, building on documented trends and gaps across:",
    "Further work is needed to better quantify the macro and microeconomic benefits and to evaluate which policies most effectively reduce frictions.",
    "**Working Paper**"
  ],
  "related": [
    {
      "title": "Working Paper",
      "role": "paper",
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/publications/wp/2020/english/wpiea2020157-print-pdf.pdf",
      "summary": {
        "path": "/-/media/files/publications/wp/2020/english/wpiea2020157-print-pdf.pdf.md",
        "mime": "text/markdown"
      },
      "binary": {
        "path": "/-/media/files/publications/wp/2020/english/wpiea2020157-print-pdf.pdf",
        "mime": "application/pdf"
      }
    }
  ],
  "alternates": {
    "markdown": "/en/publications/wp/issues/2020/08/07/financial-inclusion-what-have-we-learned-so-far-what-do-we-have-to-learn-49660/index.md",
    "json": "/en/publications/wp/issues/2020/08/07/financial-inclusion-what-have-we-learned-so-far-what-do-we-have-to-learn-49660/index.json",
    "bundleManifest": "/en/publications/wp/issues/2020/08/07/financial-inclusion-what-have-we-learned-so-far-what-do-we-have-to-learn-49660/bundle-manifest.json"
  },
  "generatedAtUtc": "2026-09-18T17:29:28.492Z"
}