The contribution of digital financial services to financial inclusion in Mozambique: an ARDL model approach

Abstract

This paper analyses the contribution of digital financial services to financial inclusion in Mozambique, based on the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model, for the period from January 2011 to September 2019. We study two models to analyse the contribution of digital financial services to financial inclusion (measured by the number of bank accounts) in Mozambique. The first model uses traditional digital means of payments as independent variables, such as the volume of financial transactions through automated teller machines (ATMs), point-ofsales (POSs), electronic transfers of inter and intrabank funds, direct debit, and domestic and crossborder remittances. The second model considers innovative digital means of payments, such as internet banking, mobile banking and electronic money. We conclude that, excluding domestic remittances and direct debit, which present low levels of penetration in the country, and internet banking transactions, the remaining variables contribute to financial inclusion. Our results confirm the crucial role that digital financial services play in financial inclusion, particularly in improving access to and the use of services by the under-served population.