Search results

The purposes of the paper are as follows: (1) Analysing the effect of financial inclusion on financial stability. (2) Examining whether financial inclusion non-linearily impacts financial stability. (3) Analysing whether the effect of financial inclusion varies across quantiles of financial stability. (4) Investigating whether dimensions of financial inclusion affect financial stability differently. (5) Examining whether the effect of financial inclusion on financial stability depends on competitiveness of the banking industry.

Using panel data for 19 African countries for the period 2006–2022, we first developed multidimensional index of financial inclusion using two-stage indexing approach. Then employing panel semiparametric regression, we analyse the non-linear nexus between financial stability and financial inclusion. We further employ panel quantile regression to investigate the differential effect of financial inclusion at different quantiles of financial stability. We also employed two-stage least squires, and alternative measurement of financial stability as robustness checks.

Employing panel semiparametric regression, we demonstrate that the financial inclusion-stability nexus exhibits non-linearity: below (above) threshold level financial inclusion promotes (reduces) financial stability. Employing panel quantile regression, we find that the effect of financial inclusion increases at higher quantiles of financial stability. We further demonstrate that the effect of financial inclusion on financial stability is pronounced in a more competitive bank industry. The findings are robust to two-stage least squares estimation, and alternative measurement of financial stability. The results suggest that keeping a balance between achieving stable and inclusive financial system, and ensuring a competitive banking industry are essential to achieve bank soundness while promoting financial inclusion.

The study incrementally contributes to the literature related to the financial inclusion – stability nexus in four-fold. First, unlike studies that relied on some indicators of financial inclusion, we employed the effect of multidimensional financial inclusion on financial stability and further examined whether or not the effect varies across financial inclusion dimensions. Second, unlike studies that assumed a linear nexus between financial inclusion and stability, employing panel semiparametric regression, we investigated for non-linear relationship between the two. Employing a novel panel quantile estimation approach, we further scrutinised whether the effect of financial inclusion varies across quantiles of financial stability. Third, to our knowledge, our study is the first to examine the effect of multidimensional financial inclusion on bank soundness in Africa.

1. We find a non-linear nexus between financial inclusion and financial stability.

2. Financial inclusion below (above) threshold enhances (reduces) financial stability.

3. The effect of financial inclusion is pronounced at higher quantiles of financial stability.

4. The effect of financial inclusion on financial stability depends on bank competition.

5. The results hold across different dimensions of financial inclusion.

We find a non-linear nexus between financial inclusion and financial stability.

Financial inclusion below (above) threshold enhances (reduces) financial stability.

The effect of financial inclusion is pronounced at higher quantiles of financial stability.

The effect of financial inclusion on financial stability depends on bank competition.

The results hold across different dimensions of financial inclusion.

There has been growing interest in recent years in modelling various poverty‐related issues. However, there have not been many attempts at empirical estimation of best‐fit income distribution functions with an objective of subsequent use in poverty focused models. The purpose of this paper is to fill this gap by empirically estimating best‐fit income distribution functions for different household income groups and computing poverty and inequality indices for Sri Lanka.

The authors empirically estimated a number of popular distribution functions found in the income distribution literature to find the best‐fit income distribution using household income and expenditure survey data for Sri Lanka and subsequently estimated various poverty and inequality measures.

The results show that the income distributions of all low‐income household groups follow the beta general probability distribution. The poverty measures derived using these distributions show that among the different income groups, the estate low‐income group has the highest incidence of poverty, followed by the rural low‐income group.

According to the best of the authors' knowledge, empirical estimation of income distribution functions for South Asia has never been attempted. The results of this study, even though based on Sri Lankan data, will be relevant to most developing countries in South Asia and will be very useful in developing poverty alleviation strategies.

The impact of government expenditure on economic performance has been a topic of discussion at both the sectoral and aggregate national levels. Despite its theoretical importance, evidence from literature indicates that this relationship has not been universally accepted across different countries and sectors. Given the significance of agriculture in African economies, particularly in Ghana, and the role of government in this sector, this study examines the impact of government expenditure on agricultural productivity in Ghana from 2000Q1 to 2022Q4.

Specification of the model was done based on the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) cointegration bound test approach.

The results revealed that the studied variables cointegrated in the long run. Government expenditure was found to induce agriculture production both for the long run and short run within the period of the study, implying that government expenditure matters in inducing agriculture productivity in Ghana.

The study employed the ARDL methodology to investigate government expenditure and agriculture production contagion in Ghana, which has been specifically overlooked by previous studies. It is suggested that the Government of Ghana as well as others in similar environment should increase investment into the agriculture to boost the productivity of the sector.