This subject has attracted considerable attention from researchers and development practitioners because of the interest in remittances and the roles they play in alleviating poverty. For instance, G-Cash and Smart Money, offered by the Philippines’ two largest GSM companies, Globe and Smart, allow users to send and receive cash and make payments for a variety of goods and services. A similar program has been implemented in Kenya called M-PESA which allows users to load money onto their phones in shops and then send it via a text message to someone else.They can also withdraw the money at another location using a password, which in Kenya can be much safer than carrying cash.
LIRNEasia intends to explore in detail the case of the Philippines, examining different modes of m-payments and related financial transactions; a classification of the multiple forms of emergent m-payments with international examples; documentation of the growth of m-payments, distinguishing between international and intra-country m-payments; the regulatory problems that have been experienced and are likely to emerge; and the barriers to use by the BOP.
Recent Comments