Economic inequality is associated with preferences for smaller, immediate gains over larger, delayed ones. Such temporal discounting may feed into rising global inequality, yet it is unclear whether it is a function of choice preferences or norms, or rather the absence of sufficient resources for immediate needs. It is also not clear whether these reflect true differences in choice patterns between income groups. We tested temporal discounting and five intertemporal choice anomalies using local currencies and value standards in 61 countries (N = 13,629). Across a diverse sample, we found consistent, robust rates of choice anomalies. Lower-income groups were not significantly different, but economic inequality and broader financial circumstances were clearly correlated with population choice patterns.

The last few years have witnessed a rapid development in digital finance that may threaten the manner in which traditional financial services are being used. It opens up new opportunities for low-income groups and small businesses that have limited or no access to formal financial services. Thus, digital financial inclusion plays a vital role in boosting a country’s financial inclusion, fulfilling some sustainable development goals and achieving higher economic growth. This study builds on a new measure of digital financial inclusion to examine the impact of digital financial inclusion and bank competition on bank stability in Sub-Saharan Africa for the period 2014 to 2020 using the two-step System Generalised Method of Moments. An index of digital financial inclusion, z-score, Herfindahl–Hirschman Index (HHI), and non-performing loans were used as data variables. The study findings reveal that digital financial inclusion has a significant positive relationship with bank stability (z-score) and a negative relationship with non-performing loans. The study also found a significant negative effect of bank competition (HHI) on bank stability in line with the competition-fragility view. Policymakers should ensure digital financial literacy for all since it feeds into bank stability and also reduces bank insolvency. They should also find ways of enhancing bank competition which reduces non-performing loans and bank insolvency. On practical implications, the study calls for strategic measures to preserve bank stability, such as complementing digital financial inclusion with financial literacy and enhancing bank competition.

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This study investigated the relationship between sustainable development and crude oil revenue (COR) in selected oil-producing African countries from 1992–2017 using the Pooled Mean Group (PMG) estimators on panel autoregressive distributed lag model (ARDL). Sustainable development was measured with the Human Development Index (HDI). This study was significant for Africa to break away from fiscal over-dependence on natural resource revenue, especially crude oil due to its high volatility and to correct porous institutional outlook. The a priori expectation is that crude oil revenue will tank so much that many countries will record negative positions and might not be to meet fiscal demands in the long run if the situation is protracted. Empirical results revealed that there was no long-term relationship between COR and sustainable development. In other words, the results suggest that any changes to COR have a potential negative effect on sustainable development in the selected countries. This implies over-reliance on COR will impact the economies negatively in the long run. This finding, therefore, requires an immediate fiscal intervention on spending on sustainable development drivers such as education, health, agriculture cum adoption diversification policy, and veritable supply-side policies that could avert the possibility of these negative effects and to correct traits of ineffective public institution. The absence of such policy interventions in these countries seems to be related to ineffective public institution and bad governance, culminating from poor, ineffective, and inefficient implementation.

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The paper empirically examines the dynamic relationship between financial development and economic growth in South Africa in terms of financial intermediaries and financial markets based structure. A time series analysis using the VAR Model provided evidence for the dynamic relationship. The paper provides empirical evidence on the causal impact of the financial market on economic growth in South African. The results suggest that financial intermediaries and financial markets have different impacts on economic growth given their different roles in the economy. In particular, there is bidirectional causality between stock market and economic growth. Also, a unidirectional causality from the bond market to economic growth was established. However, as for financial intermediaries, causality runs from economic growth to financial intermediaries. This suggests the importance of the financial market in economic development in South Africa.

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