1. Financial Inclusion: "In the midst of the accelerating growth in complexity and scale of payment sectors worldwide, we find that the biggest constraint today is not shortage of funding...the biggest global constraint is human: a shortage of the capabilities and competences which undergird capacity within organizations new and old, public and private." CFI
2. Credit: A review of consumer credit data from more than 5 million customers over a five year period offers some surprising findings - auto debt in combination with any other debt generally indicated a lower credit score and younger borrowers with a mortgage and student loans have higher scores than their older counterparts with the same debt combination. Urban Institute
3. Microinsurance: A preliminary review of the microinsurance landscape in sub-Saharan Africa indicates growth in both number of policies and products, with the largest growth in health and agricultural coverage. Microinsurance Network & Munich Re Foundation
4. Retirement Savings: Despite efforts from the government to increase retirement funds, only .3% of eligible Mexicans make regular contributions, contributing to high poverty rates among the elderly. A new report "provides high-level behavioral design recommendations for policymakers and practitioners in the Mexican retirement savings industry" to increase savings. ideas42
5. Fintech and Savings: Several new apps (targeted at millennials) incorporate mental accounting and commitment devices to increase savings and curb "hapless" spending. Quartz
Editor’s Note: I’m going to assume that you are seeing plenty of AI content (news and papers, not AI slop, though I’m sure you’re getting plenty of that too) from other sources, so I’m trying to think hard about the marginal value that the faiV can provide. As far as I’ve gotten so far: a) make sure that directly AI-related content does not take up more than 2 of the 5 items, and b) try to focus specifically on the cybersecurity issue for financial inclusion. Beyond that, I’m open to feedback on the value you get from the faiV in relation to AI to help guide us in the future. On a different note, I’ll be making a brief cameo appearance at the e-MFP Inclusive Finance Conference to moderate the opening plenary. If you haven’t registered, do so and I hope to see you there! - Tim Ogden