The Economic Journal · 2024 · Valentina Brailovskaya、Pascaline Dupas、Jonathan Robinson
中文摘要
数字信贷在非洲迅速扩张,贷款条款不透明,而消费者的金融素养较低。来自马拉维的丰富数据显示,市场对一款期限为15天、基础利率为10%的数字贷款存在大量需求,但大多数借款人并不了解贷款条款,还款延迟并承担了可观的滞纳金。断点回归分析显示,没有证据表明获得小额数字贷款会损害消费者感知的福祉。一项简短的、随机化的、基于电话的金融素养干预提高了金融知识水平,但并未提高按时还款率,反而适度提高了贷款需求,最终提高了曾发生违约的可能性。
Abstract
Digital credit has expanded rapidly in Africa, with opaque loan terms amidst low consumer financial literacy. Rich data from Malawi shows substantial demand for a digital loan with a base interest rate of 10% over 15 days, yet most borrowers are not aware of loan terms, repay late and incur substantial late fees. Regression discontinuity analyses show no evidence that access to small digital loans harms consumers’ perceived well-being. A short, randomised, phone-based financial literacy intervention improved knowledge, but did not increase timely loan repayment and modestly increased loan demand, ultimately increasing the likelihood of ever defaulting.