Mobile Money: The Economics of M-PESA / William Jack, Tavneet Suri.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Jack, William.

Contributor:

National Bureau of Economic Research.

Suri, Tavneet.

Series:

Working Paper Series (National Bureau of Economic Research) no. w16721.

NBER working paper series no. w16721

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource: illustrations (black and white);

Other Title:

Mobile Money

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Mass. National Bureau of Economic Research 2011.

Summary:

Mobile money is a tool that allows individuals to make financial transactions using cell phone technology. In this paper, we report initial results of two rounds of a large survey of households in Kenya, the country that has seen perhaps the most rapid and widespread growth of a mobile money product - known locally as M-PESA - in the developing world. We first summarize the mechanics of M-PESA, and review its potential economic impacts. We then document the sequencing of adoption across households according to income and wealth, location, gender, and other socio-economic characteristics, as well as the purposes for which the technology is used, including saving, sending and receiving remittances, and direct purchases of goods and services. In addition, we report findings from a survey of M-PESA agents, who provide cash-in and cash-out services, and highlight the inventory management problems they face.

Notes:

Print version record

January 2011.