Session 8: Role of ICT
Moderator:
Elaine Tan



Impact Evaluation on Fintech-based Auto Loans, Financial Coaching, and Savings in the Philippines

We study whether financial technologies (fintech) improves loan accessibility and its impacts on borrowers’ economic status. We implemented a survey for tricycle drivers in Metropolitan Manila. We compare tricycle drivers who purchased tricycle through fintech loan of Global Mobility Service Inc (GMS) and conventional bank. The key innovation of the fintech loan is that drivers become able to access auto-financing without collateral because of the use of remote control IoT device that is able to safely deactivate motorcycle's engine when the driver fails to repay. We find that those purchased tricycle through fintech loan are more likely to have bank account and save money. Their income level is higher although total work hours are small than those who bought tricycle through conventional loan. In the next step, we will implement a randomized controlled trial to provide financial coaching and saving instrument. Lastly, we will consider several interventions to study labor supply of the drivers during the COVID-19 pandemic period.

Author/s: 

Hyuncheol Bryant Kim, Syngjoo Choi, Yasuyuki Sawada, Shigehiro Shinozaki, and Takashi Yamano


JEL codes: E51, G23, O33