Consumer protection for financial inclusion in low- and middle-income countries: Bridging regulator and academic perspectives

Markets for consumer financial services are growing rapidly in low- and middle-income countries and are being transformed by digital technologies and platforms. With growth and change come concerns about protecting consumers. The authors seek to bridge regulator and academic perspectives on underlying sources of harm and five potential problems that can result: high and hidden prices, over indebtedness, post-contract exploitation, fraud, and discrimination.

• Date: 01/09/2021
• Author(s): Seth Garz, Xavier Giné, Dean Karlan, Rafe Mazer, Caitlin Sanford and Jonathan Zinman
• Sector: Any
• Topics: Digital technology, Inclusive finance
• Regions: Global
• Resource type: Publications from partners
• Institutions: Annual Review of Financial Economics