Financial exclusion of the poor: a literature review

Abstract

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to conduct a cross-disciplinary review of the literature on financial exclusion in order to provide a place where one could have a bird’s eye view of the academic activities that have been happening in the area.Design/methodology/approach– As a literature review, no specific methodology is required.Findings– Researchers in economic geography and urbanization seem to have contributed significantly to the growing literature on financial exclusion. The persistence of the problem despite efforts to combat it calls for innovative thinking on the part of marketing scholars and financial institutions on how to serve the unbanked.Research limitations/implications– The review identifies gaps in the state of current research and provides direction for future research.Practical implications– The study identifies gaps in the literature and provides directions for future research.Social implications– As a literature review, there is only an indirect social implications in the sense that the studies reviewed could be used to impact people’s lives.Originality/value– As a literature review, originality is not an applicable criterion, however, the study provides value to the reader by bringing together disparate studies at one place and by pointing out gaps in the current state of research.