Publication: Financial Access 2009 : Measuring Access to Financial Services around the World
Date
2009-09
ISSN
Published
2009-09
Author(s)
Consultative Group to Assist the Poor
Abstract
Financial Access 2009 introduces the
latest data from a survey of financial regulators in 139
countries. It presents indicators of access to savings,
credit, and payment services in banks, and in regulated
nonbank financial institutions. It is intended for a broad
audience of policymakers, researchers, practitioners,
multilateral and bilateral investors, in order to guide
monetary policy, monitor systemic risks, and collect
information on the values of deposits and credit. This
report reviews three interventions: disclosure requirements,
interest rate caps, and methods to address excessive lending
that can result in consumer indebtedness. Improved
transparency and disclosure allow borrowers to make informed
choices and can facilitate competition in financial markets,
eventually leading to lower prices and improved products.
Policies to restrict interest rates or credit quantity,
especially in consumer credit, seem to have limited effect
but require further analysis.
Citation
“Consultative Group to Assist the Poor. 2009. Financial Access 2009 : Measuring Access to Financial Services around the World. © Consultative Group to Assist the Poor/The World Bank, Washington, DC. http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/ac3395fe-d452-51ab-8801-95f0092cf0c3 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”