| Abstract: |
The present research extends Lashitew, van Tulder and Liasse (2019, RP) in
order to understand the greater diffusion of mobile money innovations in
Africa. To make this assessment, a comparative analysis is engaged between
sampled African countries and the corresponding sampled developing countries.
Three main types of predictor groups are used for the study, namely: demand,
supply and macro-level factors. The empirical evidence is based on Tobit
regressions. The tested hypothesis is confirmed because from a comparative
analysis between African-specific estimates and those of the sampled
countries, not all factors driving mobile money innovations in Africa are
apparent in the findings of Lashitew et al. (2019). An extended analysis is
also performed to take on board the concern of multicollinearity from which,
the best estimators from the study are derived. Comparative findings from
correlation analysis show that an African specificity is largely traceable to
the ‘unique mobile subscription rate’ variable. An in-depth empirical
analysis further confirms an African specificity in the outcome variables
(especially in the mobile used to send/receive money) which, may be traceable
to informal sector variables not documented in Lashitew et al. (2019).
Scholarly and policy implications are discussed. |