Impact of mobile money transactions on economic growth

Abstract

The mobile money transfer service is an aspect of a broader concept emerging in the electronic payment and banking industry referred to as Mobile Money. Economic growth is measured in nominal terms. This study sought to establish the effect of mobile money transfers on economic growth in Tanzania. The objective of the study was to establish the effect of mobile money transfer service on economic growth in Tanzania. This phenomenon is keenly being achieved through Mobile Money Transfer Services initiative already taking significant and positive direction in Tanzania. This study employed explanatory research design which focuses on why questions by developing casual explanations. An explanatory survey design shows how variables relate to each other. It aimed at establishing a cause and effect between variables. The dependent variable was economic growth. The independent variables were mobile money transfer agents, mobile money transfer customer enrolments, mobile money transfer transaction frequency and mobile money transfer deposit value. The choice of the years was because of data availability. The study used secondary data sources to gather information relevant in reaching the research objectives. The secondary data was collected from BOT and the World Bank reports. The study’s data collection source was justified by the fact that data on mobile money transfer agents, mobile money transfer customer enrolments, mobile money transfer transaction frequency and mobile money transfer deposit value were available in the BOT. There was no Co-integration between economic growth and mobile money agents, customers, frequency of transfer as well as the value of money transferred. VAR modeling impulse response revealed that number of agents, customers and frequency of transactions have a long run positive shock on economic growth while both interest rate and exchange rate impacts it negatively. There is need to intensify the need for adaption of mobile money transfer services among those who have not adapted them. The study recommends that the policy makers take mobile money transfer into consideration when drafting policies. This was because of the indirect relationship of mobile money transfer to economic growth through the provision of job opportunities, increased financial deepening and financial inclusion. Further, the study recommends that the government set up mechanism and framework to support innovation and offer substantive regulation in the mobile money transfer market to safeguard and offer security to the service users.