Study shows COVID-19 financial stress slowed digital finance adoption in Africa

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the use of financial technology worldwide, including in many African countries, but it also brought financial hardships, leading to negative impacts on digital financial inclusion. In a new study, researchers have assessed financial data from more than half of the countries in Africa. They found that financial worries related to the pandemic reduced individuals' likelihood of adopting digital financial services, and that this effect was not uniform but was moderated by demographic and institutional characteristics.