1. Impact Evaluations: Most impact evaluations look at interventions to improve the lives of the poor, but are they actually making poor people’s lives better? The World Bank - Development Impact
2. Financial Inclusion: Elisabeth Rhyne reminds us the recipe for digital financial inclusion (technology + efficient delivery models + effective regulation) is easier said then done, even when a country has all of the "ingredients" in place. Center for Financial Inclusion
3. Retail Banking: Walmart announced it now offers customers a low-cost checking account product through a partnership with GoGreen. The new "GoBank" accounts have no overdraft fees or minimum balance requirements. TechCrunch
4. Payments: Japan to the US: "Using your phone to buy stuff? We’ve been doing that for years." Time Money
5. Data and Tech: Conversations around the collection and storage of personal data usually center around privacy concerns. But a life off of the grid is not necessarily a good thing - the "data divide" can create inequalities for communities and individuals. Data Innovation
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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