Transaction Networks: Evidence from Mobile Money in Kenya

Mobile money allows households in Kenya to spread risk more efficiently. In this paper we show that these efficiencies are achieved through deeper financial integration and expanded informal networks. Active networks are more geographically dispersed and support more reciprocal financial arrangement...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jack, William, Ray, Adam, Suri, Tavneet
Other Authors: Sloan School of Management
Format: Article
Language:en_US
Published: American Economic Association 2014
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/88135
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7552-7945
Description
Summary:Mobile money allows households in Kenya to spread risk more efficiently. In this paper we show that these efficiencies are achieved through deeper financial integration and expanded informal networks. Active networks are more geographically dispersed and support more reciprocal financial arrangements. Consistent with the reported reciprocity, mobile money users report a higher share of transactions as being for credit and insurance purposes.