Technology and Financial Inclusion: A Study of Technology’s Role in the Continuity of Banking Agents Sanal Gupta, Puran Singh Technology Policy and Inclusion an Intersection of Ideas for Public Policy, 2023 The agent banking model is an innovative approach to financial inclusion that heavily relies on tech-based solutions to provide financial services in rural areas. However, using technology comes with its own set of difficulties. The agent banking model's documented Indian experience emphasises the need for higher-quality technological infrastructure. The struggle with technology makes banking a high-effort business and can discourage banking agents from continuing banking operations. In this context, the study gauges the impact of technology in shaping banking agents’ continuity. We propose that the friction brought on by technological difficulties deters banking agents from continuing. Using an ordered logistic regression, agents’ intention to continue is regressed on their technical exposure, quality of equipment, quality of technical infrastructure, and quality of technical support. Data from a field survey of 301 banking agents in Himachal Pradesh was utilised for the study. We find that the exposure to financial technology, internet connectivity, and agents’ satisfaction with technical support are significant predictors of agents’ intention to continue. The findings are helpful for policy groups and agent banking stakeholders to improve the technology infrastructure to minimise agent attrition.
RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Extent and determinants of catastrophic health expenditure in rural areas of Himachal Pradesh, India A Kumar, HR Sharma, S Gupta Asia-Pacific Journal of Regional Science 7 (4), 1289-1305 , 2023 2023 Citations: 1
Technology and Financial Inclusion: A Study of Technology's Role in the Continuity of Banking Agents S Gupta, P Singh Technology, Policy, and Inclusion, 225-248 , 2023 2023 Citations: 2
What drives activity of banking agents? Evidence from Rural India S Gupta, P Singh World Development Perspectives 31, 100522 , 2023 2023 Citations: 9
State of agent banking in Himachal Pradesh P Singh, S Gupta Digital identity research initiative, ISB Hyderabad , 2021 2021 Citations: 1
Response of varieties and transplanting dates on seed yield and quality of tomato R SINGH, PM Singh, S Gupta Vegetable Science 37 (01), 94-96 , 2010 2010 Citations: 1
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
What drives activity of banking agents? Evidence from Rural India S Gupta, P Singh World Development Perspectives 31, 100522 , 2023 2023 Citations: 9
Technology and Financial Inclusion: A Study of Technology's Role in the Continuity of Banking Agents S Gupta, P Singh Technology, Policy, and Inclusion, 225-248 , 2023 2023 Citations: 2
Extent and determinants of catastrophic health expenditure in rural areas of Himachal Pradesh, India A Kumar, HR Sharma, S Gupta Asia-Pacific Journal of Regional Science 7 (4), 1289-1305 , 2023 2023 Citations: 1
State of agent banking in Himachal Pradesh P Singh, S Gupta Digital identity research initiative, ISB Hyderabad , 2021 2021 Citations: 1
Response of varieties and transplanting dates on seed yield and quality of tomato R SINGH, PM Singh, S Gupta Vegetable Science 37 (01), 94-96 , 2010 2010 Citations: 1
