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Viewpoint: Africa Doesn’t Need More Development Aid, It Needs More Capitalism
In Asia, the fight against poverty and hunger has been so effective because so many Asian countries have implemented capitalist reforms. In China alone— thanks to the partial introduction of private property rights and free-market economics—the proportion of people living in extreme poverty has fallen from 88% in 1981 to below 1% today.
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Viewpoint: Facebook’s Foray Into the World of Banking and Finance Is an Ethical and Regulatory Minefield
In particular, Libra is likely to flourish in highly remittance-dependent economies, like those of the Philippines, Bangladesh, Nepal, and the Pacific Island nations, because high remittance inflows will inject Libra into the local financial ecosystem. The average cost of remittances, globally, is 7 percent, which is scandalous.
- Categories
- Finance
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BRAC Changing With Changing Needs, but Ultra-Poor Still in Focus
BRAC, the world’s largest NGO, is changing its focus with the changing needs as well as Bangladesh context, but ultra-poor will still remain its ‘flagship’ development programme, new Executive Director Asif Saleh says.
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- NGOs, poverty alleviation
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Indonesia Has Shut Down 826 Fintech Startups This Year Alone
Indonesia, home to more than 260 million, has emerged as a prized market for fintech startups as about 90% of its population don’t carry credit cards and majority has no access to formal banking services.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Asia Pacific
- Tags
- fintech, regulations, startups
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Report: Cambodia’s ‘Reckless’ Microfinance Industry Puts Economy at Risk
The groups' study, "Collateral Damage," questions whether the industry's reported nonperforming loan rate of 1.8% is kept low by such "human rights abuses" while highlighting the multimillion dollar returns made by microcredit institutions and their shareholders.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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‘Small Is Beautiful’ Can Work in Developing Africa
Solar and mobile technology offer ways to work around the continent’s shaky infrastructure.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- infrastructure
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NilePay Mobile Money Launches in South Sudan to Widen Financial Inclusion
“NilePay Mobile Service’s partnership with Zain South Sudan is part of the company’s long-term strategy to enable eCommerce and digitize financial services across the country,” said Darius Mobe, Director, NilePay Mobile Money.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Viewpoint: ESG Investing Isn’t The Only Way To Make An Impact
In many cases, we are seeing direct environmental benefits too, thanks to VC’s support for increased automation and the sharing economy.
- Categories
- Environment, Investing
- Tags
- ESG, impact investing
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