• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.103-110
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• 2023

Financial inclusion is the safe and timely access of formal financial services to people at affordable costs. Various barriers of legacy financial system hinder the involvement of all segments of populations in the financial sector. The journey from financial exclusion to financial inclusion has to be achieved with the implementation of technological breakthroughs. Covid-19 has also raised the need for technology in all sectors of the economy. This research paper introduces the concept of intelligent financial inclusion which is the provision of financial services to people with the help of intelligent systems. This intelligent system will take the concepts from the human mind, cognitive sciences, and artificial intelligence tools and techniques. For achieving the optimal level of financial inclusion, economies must shift their financial sector from traditional means to intelligent financial systems. In this way, intelligent financial inclusion will achieve the target of involving all people in the financial sector.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.7
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• pp.139-150
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• 2021

The financial system is a relatively important sector in the economy of a country. Its role in providing access to financial services to people is able to support a better economy. The main problem in this financial system is caused by the barriers that prevent individuals or companies from accessing these financial services. This study aims to empirically analyze the relationship financial inclusion and financial system stability in ASEAN 4 (Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and The Philippines). Financial inclusion proxied by the financial inclusion through credit variable and other banking variables such as the number of financial services access, banking asset, and financial system stabilization is seen from banking performance through non-performing loan and Z score instruments. Empirically, the study uses panel data in the form of annual data for 2005-2016. The method used Panel VAR. The result shows that financial inclusion affects the stability of the financial system in ASEAN 4. This indicates that financial development through financial inclusion can encourage stability of the financial system in ASEAN 4. In this globalization era, the integrated financial system is increasing, this research shows the importance of developing financial inclusion by eliminating barriers to financial exclusion.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.12
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• pp.19-29
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• 2021

This study aims to measure financial inclusion and examine its impact on income inequality in a panel of 18 Asian countries over the period 1997-2017. Two alternative approaches for developing financial inclusion index are used: one approach following the methodology of Sarma (2008), while the other is the Dynamic Factor Model (DFM)-based index. The impact of individual indicators and index of financial inclusion on inequality in income is analyzed. The Generalized Method of Moment (GMM) approach is used for empirical analysis. The results indicate that micro-level financial inclusion has a weak negative and statistically significant impact on income inequality. Macro-level index and all individual indicators of financial inclusion do not affect income inequality in the selected sample of economies. The income inequality issues have different natures and cannot be fixed by financial inclusion only. It needs holistic structural reforms to enable fair distribution of income and make an equitable financial system. Financial inclusion is a relatively less important intervention tool regarding fixing the issue of income inequality. This is one of the first studies that used the DFM method for financial inclusion indices construction.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.12
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• pp.363-370
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• 2021

This study aims to revisit the issues and misconceptions about financial inclusion (FI) indices. For indices construction, this study uses two approaches: one approach following the methodology of Sarma (2008) which is based on UNDP methodology, while the other is the Dynamic Factor Model (DFM)-based index of Stock and Watson (2002) and Rehman et al. (2021). The data of 18 economies of Asia from 1997 till 2017 is used for indices construction and analysis. The authors constructed macro and micro-level financial inclusion indices based on the different types of financial inclusion indicators. Second, the authors have critically evaluated two different approaches, and the results show that Sarma (2008)-based index show financial inclusion's level, while DFM-based index reveal fluctuation in the current year's financial inclusion level due to the prior variations. For measuring the level of financial inclusion, the Sarma (2008) index is effective, while for forecasting the level of financial inclusion, the DFM approach is more appropriate. Furthermore, the micro and macro aspects of financial inclusion should be reflected in separate indices for better understanding and in-depth insights.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.7 no.10
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• pp.73-85
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• 2020

As an effort to achieve sustainable development and increase people's welfare, financial inclusion has become the policy agenda of many countries. Therefore, the effect of financial inclusion on economic growth, poverty, income inequality, and financial stability in several countries in Asia has become the goal and this is the subject of this study. Financial inclusion is measured by 3 dimensions, namely banking penetration, access to banking services, and use of banking services. Poverty ratio below the national poverty line and the Gini coefficient are used as indicators of poverty and income inequality. Financial stability is measured by Bank Z-Score and bank nonperforming loans. The results from the hypothesis test shows that all dimensions of financial stability simultaneously have significant influence on economic growth, poverty, income inequality, and financial stability. On the other hand, the partial impact of financial inclusion dimension on economic growth, poverty alleviation, income inequality, and financial stability in ten countries of Asia has not been optimal. The derived results of this study is required to be interpreted and considered by the Governments of each country in developing strategies for increasing financial inclusion, so that the policy to achieve sustainable development and enhancement of people's welfare can be achieved.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.47-59
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• 2020

This paper intends to explore the relationship between financial inclusion and financial stability under the scope of Asian economies. The linkage will be thoroughly investigated with country-level and bank-level data of 42 countries in three separate years: 2011, 2014, and 2017. In this study, an inclusive financial system is assessed by two dimensions: usage of financial services and access to the financial system. Usage of financial services ranges from account to credit, savings and payment services. Access to financial system measures the financial outreach where individuals can use financial services. Meanwhile, financial stability, which proxied by Bank Z-score is regarded as the dependent variable. We apply fixed effects regression and random effects regression to capture the impacts of financial inclusion upon financial stability. To enhance the robustness of the model, the Feasible Generalized Least Squares (FGLS) regression is therefore adopted as the solution for the random effects regression. The empirical findings exhibit an overall weak positive influence of financial inclusion on financial stability. The research results also provide both financial institutions and governments with insightful information, which helps them to have an appropriate financial development strategy, improve the regulatory framework and consequently enhance financial stability for the whole system.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.8
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• pp.421-431
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• 2021

This study investigates the empirical linkages between ASEAN countries' institutional quality and financial inclusion using country data from 2008-2019. In this paper, six governance indicators from the World Governance index are used to measure the impact of institutions on financial inclusion. The PCA method's financial inclusion index is constructed from 3 indicators: penetration, access, and usage: penetration, access, and usage with six indices respectively as the number of ATMs per 1000 km², the number of bank branches per 1000 km², the number of ATMs per 100,000 people and the number of bank branches for 100,000 adults, the ratio of credit to private to GDP, and the ratio of deposit to private to GDP. Regression analysis with the Generalized Moments method shows the positive impact of institutions and other control variables like GDP per capita, inflation, bank concentration, and human development index on financial inclusion. Therefore, this study recommends that the government and policymakers in countries pursue the financial inclusion agenda to pay attention to the financial and economic indicators and institutional factors. This is because many savers, borrowers, and investors may not be protected when financial contracts are enforced or breaches occur in an environment where economic, legal, judicial, and political institutions are weak, such as in ASEAN countries.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.247-255
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• 2021

The study aims to determine the influence of intellectual capital and education on public financial services in increasing financial inclusion. This study applied a survey technique by selecting respondents according to the purposive sampling method. The number of respondents in this study was 500 people and came from various regions in Indonesia. Data analysis was performed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) techniques. The results indicate that intellectual capital has a positive effect on financial inclusion. Conversely, education about public financial services has no influence in increasing financial inclusion. The results of this study indicate that the success of financial inclusion programs in Indonesia is caused more by the role of public intellectual capital. Studies show that the public does not have the courage to be involved in banking institutions because the image of this institution tends to be inflexible in its operations. The results of this study are expected to make a real contribution, especially for the government and banks, that in order to achieve the success of the financial inclusion program in Indonesia; the related parties should educate the public directly to citizens who have not been reached by banking services continuously and with a more down to earth approach.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.7 no.11
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• pp.205-218
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• 2020

This study aims to analyze the influence of financial inclusion on micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises' (MSMEs) performance and examine the mediation role of financial intermediation and access to capital. The object of this study is MSMEs in Malang, Indonesia. The sample consists of 100 MSME actors in Malang City, which is determined using Roscoes theory. The data is collected using Simple Random Sampling method, by distributing questionnaire measured with Likert scales. The hypotheses proposed in this study are examined using Partial Least Square (PLS) model. The results of this study show that financial inclusion influences MSMEs' performance both directly and indirectly through mediation from financial intermediation and access to capital. The direct influence means that the efforts to increase access to financial services, especially access to credit financing for MSMEs, will be able to increase market share, number of workers, sales, as well as profit of the MSMEs. Increased financial inclusion has a major impact on improving MSMEs' performance through financial intermediation compared to access to capital. This means that the increase of financial access for MSMEs followed by an increase in financial intermediation in the form of a financial service approach to MSMEs will improve MSMEs' performance.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.1045-1052
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• 2021

The main purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between financial inclusion and socio-economic and demographic factors. Ownership of bank accounts, availing of credit facility, and use of mobile banking were considered the major indicators of financial inclusion. To achieved this objective, the present study was conducted in the rural regions of three hill districts of Uttarakhand. 780 rural households were selected by using stratified and judgment sampling technique. To measure the association between the variables, binary logistic regression model was employed. The findings of the study revealed that there is a significant association of socio-economic variables with financial inclusion. The overall analysis of the study indicates that the likelihood of having bank account, usage of mobile banking facility, and availing credit facility increases with the increase in the financial literacy of an individual in hill rural regions of the state. Further, the study also indicates the vulnerability of women relative to that of men in both cases of mobile usage and availing credit. The findings of the study suggest to target the economically vulnerable section of population (as identified in case of having low financial inclusion) and enhancing the financial literacy in these regions.