Upanzi Network Webinar: Philip Roessler

March 29, 2023

5:00 p.m. CAT

Virtual

Abstract

Economies around the world are adopting inclusive instant payment systems (IIPS) to boost financial integration and spur economic growth. IIPS provides a fast back-end interface between financial service providers, allowing clients with different providers to transact near-instantly. In this talk, we will discuss the value of these systems and their historical importance, as well as the various use cases they enable. We provide a theory of change for how IIPS might accelerate the transition from cash-based to digital economies and the potential effects on consumers and merchants, economic efficiency, social welfare, and the broader macroeconomy. Lastly, we will preview a set of studies our research team is implementing to strengthen the evidence base on the social and economic impacts of IIPS.

Biography

Dr. Philip Roessler is an Associate Professor of Government and Co-Director of the Digital Inclusion and Governance Lab (DIGLab) at William & Mary in Virginia, USA. He is an expert in the political economy of development, with wide-ranging interests on the study of armed conflict; the origins and consequences of spatial inequality; and the impact of the digital technology revolution. His research on digital technologies focuses on bridging the smartphone ownership gap, the uptake of digital financial services, and the impact of instant payment systems. He is a co-PI of the Interoperable Payment Systems project at Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) and co-author of “Inclusive Instant Payment Systems: An Evidence-based Approach from Design to Impact.”

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