Asian Journal of Empirical Research

Investigating the relationship between financial technology on financial access in Cameroon: Emperical study

2025-04-09T01:12:38-05:00

This empirical study aims to investigate the relationship between financial technology (FinTech) and financial access in Cameroon. With the increasing adoption of financial technology in the financial service sectors, it is essential to determine whether the use of these technologies has a significant impact on financial access. Methodologically, to appraise the link between FinTech and financial access, the study applied the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) technique. Data related to financial access were obtained from the Financial Development and Structural Dataset, while bank technological-related data, such as the Depth of Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs), were obtained from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) database. The ARDL Bounds Test results make a substantive contribution to the scholarly discourse by empirically affirming the existence of a long-term cointegration relationship between FinTech and financial access. The outcome shows that in the short run, FinTech has a positive effect on financial access up to the third lag, and the long-run outcome equally confirms a positive and significant effect of FinTech on financial access in Cameroon. In terms of policy recommendations, policymakers should implement programs that incorporate initiatives to promote FinTech, while consumers need to learn about the benefits of FinTech and how to use FinTech services safely.

Climate change in agricultural production and migration intentions in developing countries: Evidence from african countries

2025-05-04T22:33:05-05:00

This study aims to assess the effect of climate change on agricultural production and its impact on migration intentions. We conceptualize migration intention as a process ranging from desire and planning to preparation. Using data from round 7 (2016/2017) of Afrobarometer surveys, we estimate a sequential logit model on a sample of 44,224 adults in 33 African countries. Descriptive results show that 36% of adults express a desire to migrate, 14% plan to leave within two years, and only 3% are preparing to migrate. Econometric estimates indicate that worsening climatic conditions in agricultural production increase the likelihood of migration intentions. The study also identifies several factors affecting migration intentions, such as age (with younger individuals more likely to migrate), gender (women show lower migration intentions), education level, internet usage, and dependency on remittances. Additionally, political commitment and perceptions of governance play a role. The findings emphasize the importance of incorporating climate change into public policies, particularly migration policies. The study recommends focusing on improving living conditions for the younger, more educated population, those dissatisfied with governance, and those dependent on remittances, to better address migration challenges linked to climate change.

Does the interaction of fintech with socio-economic conditions influence the industrial transformation process in africa?

2025-05-07T22:11:23-05:00

The objective of this article is to assess the interaction effect of Fintech with socioeconomic conditions on industrial transformation in Africa. Theoretically, there is unanimity among authors on the merits of financial technologies for industrialization, but empirically, the results are mixed because they depend on economic policy and the quality of institutions. The estimation of the basic model was made possible by the Driscoll-Kraay and Lewbel methods. It appears that socioeconomic conditions have positive effects on industrialization in Africa. In addition, financial technologies, through their interaction with socioeconomic conditions, significantly stimulate industrial transformation in Africa. Therefore, the public authorities of African countries must put in place quality institutions to truly create a business climate conducive to the emergence of industry in Africa.

Investor sentiment and stock returns: Examining TAIEX performance with and without the impact of COVID-19

2025-05-07T22:23:40-05:00

This study examines the impact of investor sentiment on Taiwan’s stock market (TAIEX) returns. We analyze two periods: 2007–2019 (pre-COVID-19) and 2007–2023 (including COVID-19), utilizing three sentiment proxies—margin financing and securities lending balance ratio, market turnover rate, and the number of active traders—along with a composite sentiment index to explore their contemporaneous, predictive, and lagging relationships with TAIEX returns. Empirical results reveal that the margin financing and securities lending balance ratio, as well as the composite sentiment index, exhibit a significant negative contemporaneous relationship with market returns. In contrast, market turnover and the number of active traders display a positive but statistically insignificant correlation during the COVID-19 period. Predictive analysis indicates that only the margin financing and securities lending balance ratio serves as a reliable predictor of future returns, with higher values associated with lower subsequent returns. Additionally, reverse causality tests show that market turnover and the number of active traders respond positively to past market returns. These findings underscore the critical role of sentiment in shaping market behavior, particularly during periods of market turbulence. They also offer valuable insights for investors and policymakers in refining trading strategies and enhancing risk management, especially during extreme events.