Lots of interesting articles and events this week. Check it out and please add any additional links that you think are important via comments.
- "How small incentives can lead to changes in behavior" (from the Boston Review)is the article du jour in the development community. See what the fuss is all about. Then read Chris Blattman’s response.
- The latest news: Bangladesh yields to international pressure, calls for compromise with Yunus.
- Does microfinance work? David Bornstein sifts findings from Portfolios of the Poor in the NYT.
- Felix Salmon on How the Public Sees Microfinance.
- Buying insurance more convenient than ever. If you live in Ghana.
- The World Bank and IMF halt loans to Bangladesh, but some diplomats suggest that this is partially due to the removal of Muhammad Yunus from his position as managing director of the Grameen Bank.
- Mobile Banking is still hot—a review of the literature.
- Price structures are holding back the reach of mobile banking.
- Common mistakes made by economists, from @EzraKlein.
- Calling all wonks: 40 years of the Brookings Papers, now downloadable for free.
- Scientific American article on “Can cash incentives keep people healthy?”
- More on Unitus/SKS debate from Seattle.
- Morduch and Collins on US Financial Diaries at Microfinance USA.
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