Project description:BackgroundIt remains poorly understood how financial inclusion influences physical health functioning in later life in sub-Saharan African context and whether the association differs by gender and social relationships. We aim 1) to examine the associations of financial inclusion with functional impairment during older age in Ghana; and 2) to evaluate whether gender and social networks modify this association.MethodsThe cross-sectional analyses are based on a sample (N = 1,201) of study participants aged 50 years and over (M = 66.5 years, SD = 11.9, 63.3% female) deriving from the 2016-2017 AgeHeaPsyWel-HeaSeeB Study. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analyses with interactions were performed to estimate the link between financial inclusion and functional health and how the association is modified by gender and older age social networks.ResultsThe mean financial inclusion score was 1.66 (SD = 1.74) in women and 2.33 (SD = 1.82) in men whilst mean activities of daily living (ADL) score was 13.03 (SD = 4.99) and 14.85 (SD = 5.06) in women and men respectively. We found that financial inclusion was associated with decreases in ADL (total sample: β = -.548, p < .001; women: β = -.582, p < .001; men: β = -1.082 p < .001) and instrumental ADL (IADL) (total sample: β = -.359, p = .034; women: β = -.445, p = .026 but not in men). Social networks significantly moderated the association of financial inclusion with ADL such that the financially included who were embedded in a stronger constellation of social networks were 6% less likely to report ADL impairment compared to those with weaker social networks (β = -.062, p = .025).ConclusionsThe study provides empirical evidence for a better understanding of the association between financial inclusion and physical health functioning in the context of later life social networks. Interventions for functional health through financial inclusion in sub-Saharan Africa should include improving interpersonal and social networks for older adult and also through gender lenses.
Project description:This paper expounds the theoretical logic among digital inclusive finance, urbanization, and agricultural mechanization level, puts forward the research hypothesis, and then selects the county unbalanced panel data of 1309 counties in China from 2014 to 2020 based on the two-way fixed model with standard error clustering to county level and mediating effect model for empirical data regression analysis. Through baseline regression analysis, mediation effect analysis, and heterogeneity analysis, the findings of this paper are as follows. First, digital financial inclusion has a significant positive effect on the growth of agricultural mechanization. Second, digital inclusive finance at the county level can also indirectly affect the growth of agricultural mechanization through urbanization. That is, agricultural mechanization has an intermediary effect between the financial agglomeration at the county level and the growth of farmers' income. Third, the impact of county-level digital financial inclusion on the growth of agricultural mechanization level is significantly heterogeneous, and the promoting effect is significant in areas with balanced grain production, national-level poor county or contiguous areas of dire poverty, and areas with a good foundation for digital financial inclusion. By analyzing digital inclusive finance, urbanization, and agricultural mechanization, this paper proposes targeted policy recommendations. First, the government can promote agricultural mechanization by developing digital financial inclusion. Second, the government should guide and accelerate the process of digital financial inclusion, promoting urbanization thereby amplifying the positive impact of digital financial inclusion on agricultural mechanization. Third, given the heterogeneity of the impact of digital financial inclusion on agricultural mechanization, local development should focus on developing different dimensions of digital financial inclusion according to specific conditions.
Project description:This study utilizes provincial panel data from China spanning from 2013 to 2019 and considers indices such as residents' income, employment, housing, education, and medical care to comprehensively measure the welfare index of each province using the coefficient of variation. It also examines the impact and mechanism of digital financial inclusion on welfare and evaluates its influence on welfare imbalance through panel data models and RIF regression. The estimation results of digital financial inclusion on welfare indicate that digital financial inclusion is an important driver elevating the income, employment, housing, education, medical treatment and other welfares of Chinese residents, and the conclusion remains robust after using instrumental variable estimation and replacing the measurement method of welfare. Regional differences reveal that digital financial inclusion has a greater contribution to the welfare in the Midwest. The effect mechanism test shows that digital financial inclusion improves the welfare by creating employment opportunities and plays a greater role in the Midwest, and will also improve the welfare by increasing the welfare expenditure. However, this mechanism will exacerbate the welfare imbalance between the Midwest and East. The estimation results of digital financial inclusion on the welfare imbalance show that digital financial inclusion reduces welfare imbalance between the central and western regions and the eastern regions, as well as within the central and western regions.
Project description:BackgroundResearch on the health and wellbeing of retirees has tended to focus on financial security and financial planning. However, we suggest that one reason why financial security is important for retirees is that it enables social connectedness, which is critical for healthy ageing.MethodsThis paper tests this hypothesis cross-sectionally (N = 3109) and longitudinally (N = 404) using a population-weighted mixed effects mediation model in two nationally representative samples of Australian retirees.ResultsAnalyses provide robust support for our model. Subjective financial security predicted retiree health cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Social connectedness also consistently predicted mental health and physical health, on average four times more strongly than financial security. Furthermore, social connectedness partially accounted for the protective effect of subjective financial security.ConclusionsWe discuss the implications of these findings for public health, with a particular emphasis on how social connectedness can be better supported for people transitioning to retirement.
Project description:Laos has introduced various SHI schemes for multiple groups of the population, such as government officials and other population groups under the NHI schemes. There is no specific health insurance policy for this group of people who need special health services and may have a higher possibility of entering financial catastrophe. This study aims to assess the impact of SHI schemes on accessibility and financial catastrophe against catastrophic health expenditures for older people in Laos. A structured questionnaire has been used to retrieve information from 400 older people across 39 villages in Kaysone Phomvihane District, Savannakhet province, the largest province in Laos. In the analytical process, this study used a cross-sectional study design and binary logistic regression models to predict the likelihood of accessing health facilities and experiencing financial catastrophe. The study outcome shows that the increase in age, occupation, number of older people within a household, and presence of chronic conditions increase the likelihood of using health services. Despite the existence of various SHI schemes, this study found that 74 out of 165 households reported using health services experienced catastrophic health expenditure. Several characteristics are associated with catastrophic health expenditure: age, income level, and gender are prone to suffer from catastrophic health expenditure. The difficult problems stem from the absence of comprehensive legislation regarding the older population. Recommendations for policymakers in various timeframes have been made, which cover short- and long-term policy proposals, including providing a specialized lane or fast-track for an older population, building health facilities exclusively for older people, and providing transportation services for older individuals living alone.
Project description:BackgroundWomen are key players in agriculture, but they are under-resourced, particularly in terms of finance. Microfinance has long been recognized as the most effective method of financially empowering these women, but using the benefits of digital technology can help scale it up and ensure its long-term viability.MethodsThe study area was Southern Nigeria. Respondents were women agripreneurs (n=479), from six states. 239 women agripreneurs who accessed digital financial products and 240 women agripreneurs who did not access financial products participated in the survey in 2019.ResultsThe tests for significant difference between income of participants and non-participants in digital finance indicated a T-value of 3.214 (P< 0.001), which implies that there was a significant difference in the income of those that are accessing digital financial products (DFPs) and those that are not accessing DFPs. The tests for significant difference between savings of participants and non-participants indicated a T-value of 2.479 (p<0.05), which also implies that there was a significant difference in the women agripreneurs' savings for participants and non-participants in DFPs. Only 2.5% of women agripreneurs are participating in micro-insurance in Southern Nigeria.ConclusionsWomen agripreneurs who are accessing digital financial products earned more income and saved more than those who are not accessing digital financial products. This implies that you are more advantaged in using digital finance in business. Micro-insurance is poorly accessed in Nigeria, and awareness of insurance products is moderately low. This study recommends that Central Bank of Nigeria should engage in more outreach programmes to enable all women in Nigeria access digital financial products because of its convenience and contributions to success in business. Insurance companies should capitalize on business models that incorporate mobile technologies in order to increase insurance penetration in rural areas.
Project description:This paper investigates the impact of financial Inclusion on household poverty and vulnerability by constructing a household financial inclusion index using the China Household Finance Survey 2015. It is found that financial Inclusion significantly reduces the probability of poverty and vulnerability of households and has a more significant impact on vulnerable groups such as rural and urban low-income people. Further, financial Inclusion has a more significant effect on poor families that do not receive government support for poverty alleviation and can complement co-insurance mechanisms to help families better cope with vulnerabilities caused by synergistic community shocks. Finally, promoting entrepreneurship and improving risk management capabilities are the main channels of financial Inclusion.
Project description:Digital disruptions have led to the integration of applications, platforms, and infrastructure. They assist in business operations, promoting open digital collaborations, and perhaps even the integration of the Internet of Things (IoTs), Big Data Analytics, and Cloud Computing to support data sourcing, data analytics, and storage synchronously on a single platform. Notwithstanding the benefits derived from digital technology integration (including IoTs, Big Data Analytics, and Cloud Computing), digital vulnerabilities and threats have become a more significant concern for users. We addressed these challenges from an information systems perspective and have noted that more research is needed identifying potential vulnerabilities and threats affecting the integration of IoTs, BDA and CC for data management. We conducted a step-by-step analysis of the potential vulnerabilities and threats affecting the integration of IoTs, Big Data Analytics, and Cloud Computing for data management. We combined multi-dimensional analysis, Failure Mode Effect Analysis, and Fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity for Ideal Solution to evaluate and rank the potential vulnerabilities and threats. We surveyed 234 security experts from the banking industry with adequate knowledge in IoTs, Big Data Analytics, and Cloud Computing. Based on the closeness of the coefficients, we determined that insufficient use of backup electric generators, firewall protection failures, and no information security audits are high-ranking vulnerabilities and threats affecting integration. This study is an extension of discussions on the integration of digital applications and platforms for data management and the pervasive vulnerabilities and threats arising from that. A detailed review and classification of these threats and vulnerabilities are vital for sustaining businesses' digital integration.
Project description:It is well known that increasing participation in physical activities is not only positive for individual health promotion, but also beneficial for community-level public health by enhancing the individual's social well-being by facilitating social inclusion. Although the provision of community sports affects participation in physical activities, the magnitude and direction of this effect are still not clear. Under this circumstance, this paper examined the effects of community sports provision on social inclusion and public health using the micro-level data from a household survey conducted in eight provinces of rural China. For the purpose of this paper, the degree of social inclusion was proxied by participation in community sports, while public health was measured by the probability of getting ill for members of each household. The empirical results show that community sports provision was partially effective in promoting inclusion and health in rural areas. Specifically, constructing public sports facilities significantly increases participation in community sports and decreases the risk of getting ill. In contrast, organizing public sports activities increases the opportunity for households to play sports. Nonetheless, it does not promote public health. Equally important is that economic growth (reflected in the increase in income level) may enhance public health through advancing medical technologies and improving sanitary conditions instead of encouraging participation in community sports.