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Emma Riley, PhD

Emma Riley, PhD

Assistant Professor, University of Washington

Digital Financial Services and Women’s Empowerment: Experimental Evidence from Tanzania

Digital Financial Services and Women’s Empowerment: Experimental Evidence from Tanzania

In Tanzania, a randomized control trial with 152 female microfinance groups explored the transformative potential of digital financial services on women's empowerment. By encouraging mobile money for loan repayments, previously dominated by cash transactions, the study found a substantial increase in women's mobile money usage. The shift not only led to enhanced financial control, as reflected in higher savings and improved loan repayment behavior, but also fostered social cohesion within microfinance groups. This research underscores the impactful role of digital tools in empowering women and advocates for the integration of such services into broader financial initiatives.

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