[3]
About authors
Afgan T. Imanzade was born in the city of Baku in 1987. He studied finance
and credit at the Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC) completing his
bachelor degree in 2008 and master degree in 2011. Having been a dissertationist
at the Department of Finance and Financial Institutions, the UNEC since 2015 he
is currently conducting a research on the dissertation titled ‘Formation and
development challenges of the credit reporting system’ to get a Doctor of
Philosophy in Economic Sciences. He is the author of a number of academic
papers.
Mob:
+994 55 2884812
E-mail:
afgan.imanzade@gmail.com
Anar A. Zeynalov was born in the Gazakh district in 1985. He studied
economics at the Marmara University in the Republic of Turkey completing the
bachelor degree in 2009 and the master degree at the UNEC in 2016. He has been a
doctoral candidate at the Department of Economic Theory, the UNEC since 2017.
Currently, he is conducting a research on the dissertation titled ‘Formation of
innovative entrepreneurship mechanisms on the backdrop of modernization of the
economy’ to get a Doctor of Philosophy in Economic Sciences. He is the author of
a number of academic papers.
Mob:
+994 70 6797192
E-mail:
anar.zeynal@yahoo.com
Seymur I. Hasanov was born in the district of Sharur, the Nakhchivan
Autonomous Republic. He graduated from the UNEC with the bachelor degree on
‘International Economic Relations’ in 2011, and MBA on ‘International business’
in 2016. Currently, he is working for the Financial Markets Supervisory Authority
of the Republic of Azerbaijan as a specialist of the Banking Supervision
Department.
Mob:
+994 55 4154244
E-mail:
seymurhasan@gmail.com
[4]
Acronyms
ACCIS
The Association of Consumer
Credit Information Suppliers
ATM
Automated teller machine
EBRD
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
FAS
Financial Access Survey
G20
20 major
economies of the world
GPFI
Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion
IMF
The
International Monetary Fund
LTV
The Loan-to-Value ratio
MSME
Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises
NPL
Non-performing loan
OECD
The Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development
OECD NFLIS
OECD National Financial Literacy Improvement Strategy
POS
Points of sale
SME
Small and medium-sized enterprises
WB
The World Bank
WB ES
World Bank Enterprise
Surveys
WB FCS
World Bank Financial Capability Survey
WB GPSS
World Bank Global Payment Systems Survey
WB GFCPS
World Bank Global Financial Consumer Protection Survey
[5]
Executive summary
The main goal of the research is to study what financial inclusion is and
analyse its current status in the Azerbaijani economy. To that end, the monography
analyses infrastructural elements to be shaped to make financial resources and
services available, and the potential to deepen financial inclusion, researches
international practice with respect to elements of financial infrastructure affecting
stronger financial inclusion and includes case studies. The study also analyses the
status of financial inclusion in the Republic of Azerbaijan as part of measuring
financial inclusion and issues proposals on the actions to be taken.
Key words: access to finance, financial inclusion
JEL classification: K20, G21, G30
[6]
Introduction
The economy is impossible to be imagined apart the financial system. The
financial system is irreplaceable in maintaining economy’s effective and dynamic
growth – it is like a bridge between the subjects that accumulate resources, on the
one hand, and those intending to obtain the resources, on the other hand.
Historically, this ‘bridge’ initially existed in the form of banks, which simply
receive deposits from depositors to further lend them to other subjects. However,
global economic growth itself resulted in the evolution of the backbone and the
implementation form of the said ‘bridge’. Currently, access to the pool of available
financial resources is ensured not only by means of banks, but also through diverse
channels, like microfinancing organizations, mobile operators, payment systems,
and postal communication. Nevertheless, it is not always easy for economic agents
to gain access to this ‘pool’. Consequently, the key drivers of economic growth –
SMEs are significantly deprived of sustainable development. In today’s context,
access to available financial resources and services, its form, methods, use and the
quality of provided resources and services are being analyzed under the definition
of financial inclusion.
Financial inclusion: backbone, elements and measuring mechanisms
Although different books provide various definitions of financial inclusion,
we consider that, if summarized, financial inclusion may be defined as follows:
Financial inclusion may be defined as ongoing access of the population to
financial services and resources that meet their low cost, various and concrete
needs, are covered by normative – legal frames and provided by traditional
financial institutions to maintain socio-economic development and mechanisms to
use them.
Deeper financial inclusion is a priority for developed and developing
countries alike. 3 parameters are considered to make the process fully
comprehensive: