INTEGRATED EVALUATION OF FINANCIAL INCLUSION IN UKRAINE

Abstract

Abstract. Low level of financial literacy and coverage of the population with banking services is one of the urgent problems of Ukrainian society. Methodical approaches to a comprehensive integrated assessment of the level of financial inclusion are proposed. The key components of financial inclusion (FI) have been identified, which include: welfare, awareness, accessibility, involvement and usage. Their economic meaning, logical sequence and interconnectedness are revealed. An algorithm for evaluation is proposed, which includes successive stages: substantiation of FI components; selection of analytical indicators for each component; calculation of sub-indexes of components and their normalization; weighing sub-indexes based on professional judgments; calculation of the resulting indicator — the integrated index of financial inclusion (IFI). For each component of financial inclusion, a primary set of analytical indicators-indicators is formed, which are divided into stimulators and disincentives. For all components, their standardized value and significance factor are calculated. A «thermal» mapping of the dynamics of sub-indexes by components for 2000—2019 was carried out. It was found that the intensification of the development of non-cash payments and digital banking services contributed to the growth of the component of usage, and the reduction in the number of banking institutions led to a decrease in the level of availability of banking services. A comprehensive economic and statistical assessment of the level of financial inclusion in Ukraine has been carried out. Integral IFI is calculated as the geometric mean of individual sub-indexes. A composite map of financial inclusion of the population of Ukraine is constructed. The map clearly shows the low indicators of the basic components of financial inclusion — well-being and awareness. The directions of improvement of the methodology by expanding the list of analytical indicators are substantiated. The main problems and destructive factors that reduce the level of financial inclusion in the country are highlighted. It is substantiated that the method of assessing the level of financial inclusion is necessary for monitoring and preventive identification of possible problems.Keywords: financial inclusion, components of financial inclusion, accessibility, involvement, usage, analytical indicators, indices of financial inclusion, map of financial inclusion, integrated indicator of financial inclusion. JEL Classification: D14, E21, G02, Е27 Formulas: 3; fig.: 4; tabl.: 2; bibl.: 20.