Week of May 5, 2014 — Financial Access Initiative

1. Mobile Money: New data show the potential of Bitcoin and mobile money for disruption in payments and transfers systems in the developing world (particularly sub-Saharan Africa) has a long way to go before becoming a reality. Business Insider

2. Payments: Despite the rise of electronic payment methods, cash is still king in the US. According to the Federal Reserve, cash is the most popular consumer payment instrument, particularly for small-value transactions. Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

3. Financial Inclusion: Financial Inclusion Insights (FII) announced the launch of its 2014 Open Data Challenge. Participants can win up to $5000 and a chance to present their innovative analysis of financial inclusion indicators through FII's conferences and network. Financial Inclusion Insights

4. Bitcoin: "You can dismiss bitcoin as a doomed monetary experiment, but you must not pass over the opportunity to let your imagination run with it as it can shake some basic assumptions you have on how financial systems must work." - Ignacio Mas The World Bank: All About Finance Blog

5. Cash and Crime: Crime and cash go hand in hand, and a decline in the prevalence of paper currency could lead to a reduction in crime rates. But what does the future of digital currency mean for the future of crime? Priceonomics

October 13, 2026

Financial Access Initiative

The Swarm Edition

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

October 6, 2026

Laura Freschi

Rereading Michael Kremer

Ten years ago, FAI managing director Tim Ogden published Experimental Conversations, a collection of interviews with economists and other people who critique, promote, and use randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in development economics. One of the interviewees was Michael Kremer, a pioneer of the movement, now a Nobel laureate, and recently appointed Chief Economist of the World Bank.

August 13, 2026

The Massive DDoS Edition

Editor's Note:

If you were hoping that the faiV would be a pleasant distraction from the overwhelming flow of AI-related content, sorry. For the record, the faiV had “ai” built in before Anthropic existed. And a housekeeping note: we’ve finally jumped ship from Mailchimp to NYU’s mailing platform—I guess if you’re reading this it’s been a seamless transition and if you’re not, well, you’re not. Feedback on the faiV’s content and format and delivery methods is always welcome, just drop me an email.

- Tim Ogden

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