Resolving the African Financial Development Gap: Cross-Country Comparisons and a Within-Country Study of Kenya

Franklin Allen, Elena Carletti, Robert Cull, Jun Qian, Lemma Senbet and Patricio Valenzuela
Additional contact information
Franklin Allen: University of PA
Elena Carletti: European University Institute
Jun Qian: Boston College
Lemma Senbet: University of MD

Working Papers from University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School, Weiss Center

Abstract: With extensive country- and firm-level data sets we first document that the financial sectors of most sub-Saharan African countries remain significantly underdeveloped by the standards of other developing countries. We also find that population density appears to be considerably more important for banking sector development in Africa than elsewhere. To better understand how countries can overcome the high costs of developing viable banking sectors outside large metropolitan areas, we focus on Kenya, which has made significant strides in financial inclusion and development in recent years. We find a positive and significant impact of Equity Bank, a leading private commercial bank on financial access, especially for under-privileged households. Equity Bank's business model-providing financial services to population segments typically ignored by traditional commercial banks and generating sustainable profits in the process-can be a potential solution to the financial access problem that has hindered the development of inclusive financial sectors in many other African countries.

JEL-codes: G00 K00 O50 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012-04
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (27)

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Related works:
Chapter: Resolving the African Financial Development Gap: Cross-Country Comparisons and a Within-Country Study of Kenya (2014)
Working Paper: Resolving the African financial development gap: cross-country comparisons and a within-country study of Kenya (2013)
Working Paper: Resolving the African Financial Development Gap: Cross-country comparisons and a within-country study of Kenya (2012)
Working Paper: Resolving the African Financial Development Gap: Cross-Country Comparisons and a Within-Country Study of Kenya (2012)
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