Financial Product Quality Research Articles

FinTech and consumers: a systematic review and integrative framework

PurposeThis review aims to present the state of the art regarding the impact of financial technology (FinTech) on financial inclusion and its implications for consumers and institutions in terms of accessibility, usage and quality. An integrated framework is developed to illustrate the primary thematic areas for future research.Design/methodology/approachWe performed a systematic literature review (SLR) to summarize and synthesize existing research published in peer-reviewed academic journals. Forty-two eligible studies were identified from the Web of Science database and a cross-reference search.FindingsThe results suggest that FinTech promotes financial inclusion for consumers and businesses by increasing the accessibility, usage and quality of financial products. We present a multidisciplinary integrative framework that links the three dimensions of financial inclusion (i.e. access, usage and quality) to financial technology. Finally, we propose several avenues for future research.Originality/valueTo the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first SLR on how FinTech is associated with the accessibility, usage and quality of financial products. We provide an integrative framework for understanding the topic with implications in different fields.

The level of financial inclusion in Ukraine: Measuring access, quality, and usage of financial products and services

While financial inclusion is seen as a goal of socio-economic development, there is still no clear understanding of how to measure it. Following this concern, the paper deals with the computation of the financial inclusion index of the Ukrainian economy using an annual dataset spanning from 2008 to 2020 and following the Sarma methodology. The object of the study is a set of indicators of usage, access and quality of financial products and services. The obtained results demonstrate the medium level of financial inclusion. The improvement of financial inclusion is observed in 2012, 2013, 2020 (namely 0.55 – 0.56 in the range of 0 and 1). From 2015 (0.38) till 2018 (0.39), the revealed downward trend affirms that the withdrawal of banks from the market has deteriorated the level of quality and usage of financial products and services. Financial inclusion declined during the cleaning up of the banking system in 2014–2016, just as it did after the global financial crisis in 2009–2010. Despite the development of the payment infrastructure, there is a need to diversify access, increase quality, and quicken the usage of financial products and services due to existing distrust in national financial institutions. Improving financial literacy and consumer protection, and closing regulatory gaps in the non-banking sector are seen as ways to enhance financial inclusion. Thus, financial regulators should establish an upward trend in financial inclusion that will ensure full access to formal financial services and will not adversely affect the stability of financial system.

ЧИННИКИ ФУНКЦІОНУВАННЯ ТА ВИЗНАЧЕННЯ МАСШТАБІВ І ПЕРСПЕКТИВ РОЗВИТКУ ФІНАНСОВОГО СЕКТОРУ

Уточнено чинники функціонування і підходи до визначення масштабів і перспектив розвитку фінансового сектору національної економіки. Запропоновано авторське бачення детермінант функціонування і розвиненості фінансового сектору національної економіки. Проаналізовано підходи до визначення впливу розмірів фінансового сектору на стан національної економіки. Наведено чинники суттєвого розриву між фінансовим і реальним секторами національної економіки та погляди дослідників на вимірники розвитку фінансового сектору національної економіки й представлено авторську позицію стосовно показників такого розвитку.

Why Quantitative Structuring?

Quality-designed consumer products are easy to recognize. Wouldn't it be great if the quality of financial products became just as apparent? This paper is addressed to financial practitioners. It provides an informal introduction to Quantitative Structuring -- a technology of manufacturing quality financial products (information derivatives). The presentation is arranged in three parts: the main text assumes no prior knowledge of the topic; important detailed discussions are arranged as a set of appendices; finally, a list of references provides further details including applications beyond product design: from model risk to economics and statistics.