Inclusion Index Research Articles

Inclusive Education in Early Childhood: Assessing Implementation in Pekanbaru Through The Ainscow Inclusion Index

The implementation of inclusive education in Indonesia since 2002 has provided opportunities for all students, including those with special needs, to receive education in their nearest schools. Indonesian government regulations explicitly state that schools cannot reject students due to their disabilities. Consequently, schools across Indonesia, including those in Pekanbaru, have begun admitting students with special needs. However, challenges arise as the implementation of inclusive education varies among schools based on their understanding and perceptions. Therefore, this research aims to analyze the extent of inclusive education implementation at the preschool level in Pekanbaru using the Ainscow Inclusion Index. This study analyzes 12 preschools in Pekanbaru in serving students with special needs, providing a comprehensive overview of the inclusive culture, policies, and practices in the city.

STATE-DEPENDENCY IN THE NEXUS BETWEEN DIGITAL FINANCIAL INCLUSION AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate state-dependency in the nexus between digital financial inclusion and economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa, with the aim of examining the impact of adopting digital financial technology to reduce financial exclusion and contribute to economic growth. Theoretical Framework: The paper extends the work of Sarma (2008) and Khera et al. (2021), by creating a new financial inclusion index that captures both traditional and digital financial inclusion. Method: The methodology adopted for this research comprises the principal component analysis (PCA) to identify signals in financial inclusion indicators, thereafter financial inclusion indexes for digital and traditional financial services were constructed. The panel quantile regression methodology was employed to analyse the impact of shocks and determine state dependency in the nexus, respectively. Data collection was carried out through secondary sources. Results and Discussion: The result confirms a positive relationship between digital financial inclusion and economic growth with the greatest impact in countries with lower real GDP, confirming state dependency. Research Implications: The findings suggest that policymakers should focus on promoting digital financial inclusion, particularly in countries with low to intermediate levels of income. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature by broadening the definition of digital financial inclusion beyond what is currently found in the literature to include vital financial inclusion dimensions such as access to financial services. The relevance and value of this research are further evidenced by the consideration of state-dependency in the relationship between financial inclusion and growth.

‘Life would have been harder, harder and more in chaos, if there wasn’t internet’: digital inclusion among newly arrived refugees in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT Digital technologies are transforming almost every aspect of people’s lives, with COVID-19 accelerating this transition. For refugees, access and familiarity with these technologies is critical to wider aims of social integration. This article explores digital inclusion during the COVID-19 pandemic, using data from studies conducted in 2020 and 2021 with refugees recently resettled in Australia. Inclusion was mapped against three domains – access, affordability, and literacy – from the annual Australian Digital Inclusion Index. Our study found that many respondents reported comparatively high digital inclusion. However, certain characteristics, such as gender, age, presence of children and country of birth, correlated with lower levels of inclusion within some refugee sub-groups. Our research makes three contributions: it examines levels of digital inclusion among recently arrived refugees during COVID-19; it explores how these levels relate to social links and bonds; and it discusses sample differences according to gender, age, language group and type of digital inclusion.

The mediating role of corporate borrowings in the nexus between financial inclusion and performance of ICT firms: new insights from Vietnam

ABSTRACT This paper examines the effect of financial inclusion on firm performance and whether corporate borrowings serve as an effective channel of the impact. In doing so, we use principal component analysis to calculate a financial inclusion index for Vietnam. We then conduct mediation analysis on this index and a large panel of Vietnamese firms in information and communication technology sector from 2008 to 2018. Empirical results indicate a negative influence of financial inclusion on firms’ return on assets. More importantly, corporate borrowings significantly mediate this relationship. In particular, financial inclusion increases corporate borrowings, which then affects return on assets. Although corporate borrowings are positively associated with firm sales, they reduce return on assets and net profit margin of firms. The findings are robust to different estimation methods and inclusion of control variables. They convey important policy implications for governments, academic researchers, and industry practitioners wishing to design programmes and policies to help firms obtain the financial resources necessary for their development.

Impact of Institutions on Financial Inclusion in Africa

Abstract Financial inclusion, for which the keystone is access to a bank account, is crucial to overcome the socioeconomic backwardness of African countries and to improve the African societies’ well-being. The study concentrates on this continent to better understand the nature of its development in terms of financial inclusion. The research aims to identify the institutions’ impact on financial inclusion in 35 African countries in the years 2010-2019. The analysis is based on a panel model with fixed individual effects. Novelty of the study rests in incorporation of four institutional variables: constraints on the executive, resolving insolvency, property rights, and WGI. The results showed a positive and statistically significant impact of resolving insolvency on financial inclusion (a measure covering people with financial institution accounts) across the entire sample. However, this relationship is especially visible in more developed countries, while constraints on the executive turned out to be crucial for low-income countries. Another novelty of the study is creation of an index of financial inclusion covering Mobile Money which was used to verify the obtained results. In this case, no positive impact of any institutional variable was identified which may mean that a favourable institutional environment is not required for the development of Mobile Money.

Financial Inclusion Index and its Determinants among Asian Countries

The study assesses financial inclusion level and its determinants across 30 Asian countries from 2010 to 2020 using the Wroclaw taxonomy method (WTM). A comparative analysis of financial inclusion indexes was conducted, and a panel fixed-effect model was employed to explore influencing factors. Findings revealed high financial inclusion levels in China, Israel, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea, contrasting with low levels in Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Kyrgyz, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Timor-Leste. Fourteen countries ranked in the high-middle category, with six in the low category, and only four achieved high financial inclusion in 2020. GDP and bank credit positively impact financial inclusion, while broad money, population, and density contribute positively but insignificantly. Conversely, literacy rate, inflation rate, employment, female ratio, rural ratio, and internet access showed negative effects on financial inclusion

Drivers of Inclusive Development: An Empirical Investigation

Concerns about socially uneven progress and inequality have regained public attention (including that of many populist politicians). The purpose of this paper is to identify the economic policies as well as economic factors that facilitate inclusive development. This paper is a first attempt to empirically estimate the drivers of inclusive development. For our empirical assessments, we apply the Multidimensional Inclusiveness Index suggested by Dörffel and Schuhmann (2022) in a panel OLS regression setup with fixed effects (FE) and GMM estimations for up to 178 countries and a time frame ranging from 1980 to 2018. In FE regressions, we find robust associations with inflation as well as financial sector development in the short and long-run, trade/GDP in the long-run. The GMM results point only to inflation and trade as significant drivers in the long-run and investment in the short run. These results suggest that accessible and well-functioning financial markets paired with low rates of inflation and high trade openness take on a more critical role than government spending. Our results suggest that rudiments of the Washington consensus could still guide the promotion of inclusive development.

THE DIGITAL FINANCE IMPACT ON THE ENTERPRISES’ HIGH-QUALITY DEVELOPMENT

The purpose of this article is to study how digital finance affects the high-quality development of enterprises. For this purpose, this paper uses the data of China's A-share listed companies in 2011–2019 to match the digital financial inclusion index of the Digital Finance Research Institute of Peking University, form panel data, and use the fixed-effect model to complete the empirical test. The research found that digital finance plays a significant role in promoting the high-quality development level of enterprises. The key path to influencing the high-quality development of enterprises is to: first, alleviate the financing constraints of enterprises; second, solve the problem of capital factors; and third, promote the improvement of the total factor productivity of enterprises so as to promote the high-quality development of enterprises. This article enriches the research on the relationship between digital finance and the high-quality development of enterprises, providing a theoretical basis for how digital finance can better support the high-quality development of micro-entities.

Pelvic lymph node motion during cone-beam computed tomography guided stereotactic radiotherapy

Background and purposeStereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is increasingly applied for pelvic lymph node recurrence. Thus far, knowledge on pelvic lymph node motion during CBCT-guided SBRT is lacking and the applied margins vary between institutions. This study evaluated pelvic lymph node motion during CBCT-guided SBRT and assessed the currently applied PTV margins of 3 and 5 mm. Material and methodsIn total, 45 pelvic lymph node metastases were included. One observer delineated 45 GTVs on planning CT, 224 GTVs on pre-fraction and 216 on post-fraction CBCT. The GTV centroid coordinates were derived from all images for inter- and intrafraction motion analysis. Additionally, we assessed the influence of treatment time and lesion location on lesion motion. The expected coverage of a 3-mm and 5-mm PTV margin was assessed using the inclusiveness index for GTVs on pre- and post-fraction CBCT. ResultsLymph node interfraction motion was limited to 5 mm in 96–97 % of fractions for all translational directions and intrafraction lesion motion was limited to 3 mm in 97–100 % of fractions. Para-rectal lesions (11 %) were associated with significantly larger inter- and intrafraction motion compared to other pelvic locations and treatment duration showed no correlation with lesion motion. The mean (sd) lesion inclusiveness index was 99 % (5 %) for the 5-mm PTV margin and 96 % (9 %) for the 3-mm margin. ConclusionPelvic lymph node motion during CBCT-guided stereotactic radiotherapy was within the widely applied PTV margin of 5 mm, providing an opportunity to reduce this margin for pelvic lymph node SBRT.

Determinants of Financial Inclusion in Kenya: A Demand-Side Perspective

This study sought to analyze the underlying financial inclusion determinants in Kenya. The study applies ordinal logit regression to examine the effect of the residential area, gender, education level, marital status, and employment type on financial inclusion. Financial inclusion is measured by developing a financial inclusion index for ten binary financial services variables. From the index, three financial inclusion levels are designed. These include low financial inclusion with scores of zero to three, medium with scores of four to six, and high level with scores of seven to ten. The estimates of the ordinal model are statistically significant for all factors considered except gender. Area of residence, age, education type, income, and marital status positively affect the log odds of financial inclusion, while employment is negatively linked. Education, employment, and marital status have interaction effects on financial inclusion. This study recommends that the Kenyan government formulate and strengthen policies to tackle challenges such as gender disparity, rural bank infrastructure development, fostering an environment conducive for entrepreneurship to address unemployment and income disparities, advocating for secondary school completion, and addressing social issues impacting family stability, including separation or the absence of marriage.

Dampak Kepemilikan Ponsel terhadap Pendapatan Petani: Bukti dari Mikrodata di Indonesia

Dampak Kepemilikan Ponsel terhadap Pendapatan Petani: Bukti dari Mikrodata di Indonesia

Index For Inclusion by Policy Perspective in Inclusive Education for Preschool in East Java, Indonesia

Index For Inclusion by Policy Perspective in Inclusive Education for Preschool in East Java, Indonesia

Measuring Financial Inclusion in the MENA Region: Comparative Analysis

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to develop a new multidimensional financial inclusion index to measure the financial inclusion level for each of the 13 selected countries of the Middle East and North Africa region for the period 2004-2020. In addition, the comparative analysis approach encompasses the evolvement of financial inclusion for each country in the time period studied. Design/methodology/approach: This study builds onto Sarma's (2012) approach for measuring financial inclusion by forming a new and improved model including the depth dimension and new variables. The computed values are based on data on financial inclusion extracted from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, the Financial Access Survey database. Findings: The values of the new financial inclusion index reveal the inadequate efforts made by these countries to enhance financial inclusion as a way to improve the economic /income growth in the region. Research limitations/implications: This study has two limitations. The unavailability of data for some financial indicators made it inevitable to be included in the study, such as the digital banking. Such data is considered crucial for future studies on financial inclusion indexes. The other limitation is that some countries in the Middle East and North Africa region were excluded from this research due to the lack of data on some of the variables included in constructing and measuring the new index. Despite these limitation, policy-makers and central banks can benefit from this study to enhance financial inclusion practices in pursuit of economic /income growth. Originality/value: This study attempts to develop a new multidimensional index to measuring financial inclusion by including a new dimension/variables and analyzing the values.

The impact of bank’s diversity and inclusion index on profitability: evidence from Indonesia and Malaysia

The impact of bank’s diversity and inclusion index on profitability: evidence from Indonesia and Malaysia

The dynamics of the financial inclusion index for developing countries: lessons learned

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to calculate the financial inclusion index and analyze its dynamics in developing countries.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use the two-stage principal component analysis (PCA) method and consider financial technology innovations to improve the accuracy of the financial inclusion index.FindingsThe authors found a downward trend in the financial inclusion index in most developing countries over the study period. The authors also found that a high financial inclusion index is linked to high scores in the Doing Business and high business climate regulation ranking. In addition, the authors observed that the rates of low financial inclusion in developing countries are due to low utilization of and unequal access to financial services.Practical implicationsThe analysis suggests that policymakers in developing countries could invest in digital infrastructure to extend access to financial services in remote areas. They could also encourage financial innovation, particularly in financial technologies, by adopting flexible regulatory frameworks. Promoting the financial inclusion of marginalized groups through targeted initiatives tailored to their needs is another solution. They could also encourage the use of financial services by raising awareness and educating populations through training programs. Finally, to improve the business climate, governments could simplify administrative procedures and promote transparency and legal stability.Originality/valueUnlike previous studies, the use of the two-stage PCA method and the consideration of financial technology (Fintech) innovations such as mobile money in the determinants of the financial inclusion index improve the accuracy of the index.

The Impact of Digital Financial Inclusion on Household Commercial Insurance for Sustainable Governance Mechanisms under Regional Group Differences

This study explores the nexus between digital financial inclusion and household participation in commercial insurance, utilizing data from the Peking University Digital Financial Inclusion Index and the 2018 CFPS database. Using Probit and Logit models, our research uncovers significant regional and risk -preference variations, emphasizing the influence of governance mechanisms. The study underscores the pivotal role of digital participation in a sustainable governance mechanism in shaping financial behavior, as well as the importance of advocating for regulatory interventions, enhanced financial literacy, and infrastructure development to foster equitable insurance access. Moreover, positive determinants, such as education level and social insurance participation, are identified, while discretionary spending emerges as a barrier. This study advocates for expedited digital financial inclusion initiatives to increase financial literacy with strengthened regulatory oversight and governance mechanisms which would ensure sustainable regional development and insurance market resilience.

Measuring Inclusion in Vocational Education and Training through the Prism of Justice of Education

The highest possible level of inclusion and justice are the primary goals of most contemporary education systems, including vocational education and training. The Index for Inclusion, which was developed two decades ago, defines inclusion on three levels, i.e. policy, culture and practice, and provides a methodological framework for measuring the inclusive orientation of schools. This paper raises the question of whether the selected Index for Inclusion indicators can be used to also measure different dimensions of justice, which is defined as a multidimensional concept. The just redistribution of basic goods is complemented by recognition, representation and relationality. A study with the aim to determine the multidimensionality of the implementation of inclusivity in Vocational Education and Training institutions using statistical analysis was carried out. An online questionnaire was created and completed by 427 education professionals (head teachers, teachers and school counsellors) employed in vocational education and training. The dimensionality of the measured constructs was checked using a set of 28 variables with factor analysis, i.e. the Maximum Likelihood method and Varimax rotation. It was found that the statements that had been formulated on the basis of the Index for Inclusion can also be used to measure different dimensions of justice. The final version of the questionnaire (modified questionnaire), which contains a set of twenty items, adequately measures the redistribution and recognition aspects of justice, whereas the representation and relational aspects have proven to be two-dimensional concepts. A modified questionnaire could be a suitable starting point both for the self-evaluation of schools and a general measurement of inclusion in terms of justice.

Spatial Network Analysis of Coupling Coordination between Digital Financial Inclusion and Common Prosperity in the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration

Digital financial inclusion and common prosperity are pivotal elements in promoting the sustainable socioeconomic development of China. This study introduces a novel Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) method to evaluate the Common Prosperity Index (CPI). Using this index, alongside the Digital Financial Inclusion Index (DFII) released by Peking University, it examines the evolution of the coupling coordination relationship between digital financial inclusion and common prosperity within the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) urban agglomeration from 2011 to 2021. By integrating gravity models and social network analysis, in this paper, we thoroughly investigate the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of the spatial network of this coupling coordination relationship. The results indicate that both the DFII and CPI generally exhibit an upward trend, but the decline in the coupling degree reflects a weakened interaction strength between them. Specifically, Anhui significantly lags behind Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai in the development of digital financial inclusion and common prosperity, indicating regional development imbalances. Furthermore, the strength of spatial connections in city coupling coordination has significantly increased, with Nanjing’s siphon effect on cities in Anhui becoming markedly stronger, and the number of core cities in the network increasing, which demonstrates a geographical proximity feature in network development. Additionally, the overall network characteristics are transitioning towards higher density and “small-world” properties, suggesting a trend toward network stabilization. The disparity in centrality among cities has decreased, with an overall enhancement in centrality, where the spatial spillover effects from core areas such as Hangzhou-Ningbo, Nanjing-Changzhou, and Shanghai-Suzhou-Wuxi significantly promote the development of peripheral cities. Based on these findings, this paper proposes policy recommendations for the sustainable development of digital financial inclusion and common prosperity in the YRD region.

On the full range of Zippin and inclusion indices of rearrangement-invariant spaces

Let X be a rearrangement-invariant space on [0, 1]. It is known that its Zippin indices β̲X,β¯X\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\underline{\\beta }{}_X,\\overline{\\beta }{}_X$$\\end{document} and its inclusion indices γX,δX\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\gamma _X,\\delta _X$$\\end{document} are related as follows: 0≤β̲X≤1/γX≤1/δX≤β¯X≤1\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$0\\le \\underline{\\beta }{}_X\\le 1/\\gamma _X \\le 1/\\delta _X\\le \\overline{\\beta }{}_X\\le 1$$\\end{document}. We show that given β̲,β¯∈[0,1]\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\underline{\\beta },\\overline{\\beta }\\in [0,1]$$\\end{document} and γ,δ∈[1,∞]\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\gamma ,\\delta \\in [1,\\infty ]$$\\end{document} satisfying β̲≤1/γ≤1/δ≤β¯\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\underline{\\beta }\\le 1/\\gamma \\le 1/\\delta \\le \\overline{\\beta }$$\\end{document}, there exists a rearrangement-invariant space X such that β̲X=β̲\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\underline{\\beta }{}_X=\\underline{\\beta }$$\\end{document}, β¯X=β¯\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\overline{\\beta }{}_X=\\overline{\\beta }$$\\end{document} and γX=γ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\gamma _X=\\gamma $$\\end{document}, δX=δ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\delta _X=\\delta $$\\end{document}.

Financial inclusion toward economic inclusion: empirical evidence from China’s rural household

PurposeFocusing on micro-level indicators, we investigate financial inclusion levels in rural China, examining its determinants and impact on household welfare. We construct a financial inclusion index of four essential financial services: savings, digital payments, credit and insurance. We identify factors influencing financial inclusion among Chinese rural households and assess the effects of financial inclusion on household welfare.Design/methodology/approachWith the entropy method, we use data from the 2019 China Household Finance Survey to assess financial inclusion levels in rural China. Determinants and their impact on welfare are analyzed through probit and ordinary least squares models, respectively. Propensity scoring matching is applied to address potential endogeneity.FindingsWe reveal that rural households exhibit limited usage of formal financial services, with notable regional disparities. The eastern region enjoys the highest financial inclusion and the central region lags behind. Household characteristics such as family size, education level of the household head, income, employment status and financial literacy significantly influence financial inclusion. Financial inclusion positively impacts household welfare as indicated by household consumption expenditure. The use of different types of financial services is crucial with varying but significant effects on household welfare.Originality/valueThis study offers valuable insights into China’s rural financial inclusion progress, highlighting potential barriers and guiding government actions.