Financial Inclusion in Asia ― Issues and Policy Concerns

This book brings together a set of analytical and empirical essays aimed at understanding inclusive finance in emerging markets focusing on Asia. Despite the significant policy interest in the issue of financial inclusion in the Asian market, there is a dearth of academic literature on the topic. This book fills this gap by being the first of its kind to address the relevant issues and policy concerns relating to the availability and affordability of financial services in this rapidly emerging geopolitical area. The book features a mixture of empirical and case study oriented essays, informed by data, literature and policy analysis that will be useful for both the academics and the policy makers in the region interested in the subject. Countries highlighted in the essays assessing financial inclusivity include Indonesia, Sri Lanka and India.

Dr Sasidaran Gopalan is a post-doctoral fellow at the Institute for Emerging Market Studies (IEMS) at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and HKUST Jockey Club Institute for Advanced Study (IAS), Hong Kong. He is also a visiting affiliate at the Center for Emerging Market Policies (CEMP) at George Mason University, USA.

Dr Toomoo Kikuchi is a senior research fellow at Center on Asia and Globalisation (CAG) at the Lee Kwan Yew School of Public Policy (LKY-SPP), National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore. His research interests include: economic growth and development, international trade and investment, asset price bubbles and political economy.