Banking with Agents: Experimental Evidence from Senegal

B-Tier
Journal: Economic Development & Cultural Change
Year: 2024
Volume: 72
Issue: 3
Pages: 1357 - 1389

Authors (5)

Sinja Buri (not in RePEc) Robert Cull (not in RePEc) Xavier Giné (Harvard University) Sven Harten (not in RePEc) Soren Heitmann (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

0.402 = (α=2.01 / 5 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

This paper uses a randomized controlled trial to compare different banking delivery channels. Individuals living close to banking agents and branches of the same financial institution were encouraged to open a savings account and transact at either an agent or a branch. Compared with individuals sent to a branch, individuals sent to an agent increased their number of transactions at the agent and incurred lower transaction costs there. One year later, 42% of active users still used both channels but made transactions at the agent only half as large as those made at the branch.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:ucp:ecdecc:doi:10.1086/723569
Journal Field
Development
Author Count
5
Added to Database
2026-01-25