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Epidemic Exposure, Fintech Adoption, and the Digital Divide

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  • Saka, Orkun
  • Eichengreen, Barry
  • Aksoy, Cevat Giray

Abstract

We ask whether epidemic exposure leads to a shift in financial technology usage within and across countries and if so who participates in this shift. We exploit a dataset combining Gallup World Polls and Global Findex surveys for some 250,000 individuals in 140 countries, merging them with information on the incidence of epidemics and local 3G internet infrastructure. Epidemic exposure is associated with an increase in remote-access (online/mobile) banking and substitution from bank branch-based to ATM-based activity. Using a machine-learning algorithm, we show that heterogeneity in this response centers on the age, income and employment of respondents. Young, high-income earners in full-time employment have the greatest propensity to shift to online/mobile transactions in response to epidemics. These effects are larger for individuals in subnational regions with better ex ante 3G signal coverage, highlighting the role of the digital divide in adaption to new technologies necessitated by adverse external shocks.

Suggested Citation

  • Saka, Orkun & Eichengreen, Barry & Aksoy, Cevat Giray, 2021. "Epidemic Exposure, Fintech Adoption, and the Digital Divide," SocArXiv b6nv3_v1, Center for Open Science.
    • Handle: RePEc:osf:socarx:b6nv3_v1
    DOI: 10.31219/osf.io/b6nv3_v1
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    2. Taehwan Rhee & Jacob Wood & Jungsuk Kim, 2022. "Digital Transformation as a Demographic and Economic Integrated Policy for Southeast Asian Developing Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-19, March.
    3. Fabian Kosse & Tim Leffler & Arna Woemmel, 2024. "Digital Skills: Social Disparities and the Impact of Early Mentoring," CESifo Working Paper Series 11570, CESifo.

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