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Violence and financial decisions: evidence from mobile money in Afghanistan

Author

Listed:
  • Blumenstock, Joshua
  • Callen, Mike
  • Ghani, Tarek
  • González, Roberto

Abstract

We provide evidence that violence reduces the adoption and use of mobile money in three separate empirical settings in Afghanistan. First, analyzing nationwide mobile money transaction logs, we find that users exposed to violence reduce use of mobile money. Second, using panel survey data from a field experiment, we show that subjects expecting violence are significantly less likely to respond to random inducements to use mobile money. Finally, analyzing nationwide financial survey data, we find that individuals expecting violence hold more cash. Collectively, this evidence suggests that violence can impede the growth of formal financial systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Blumenstock, Joshua & Callen, Mike & Ghani, Tarek & González, Roberto, 2024. "Violence and financial decisions: evidence from mobile money in Afghanistan," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 117303, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:117303
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    File URL: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/117303/
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    Cited by:

    1. Ablam Estel Apeti & Jean-Louis Combes & Eyah Denise Edoh, 2023. "Entrepreneurship in developing countries: can mobile money play a role?," Working Papers hal-04081304, HAL.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    violence; financial development; mobile money; award #CCF-1637360;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O17 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • D14 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Saving; Personal Finance

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