Social network: Testing the predictive power of its dimensions in explaining financial inclusion of the poor in rural Uganda
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Date
2018
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
African Journal of Economic and Management Studies
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to test for the predictive power of each of the dimensions of social
network in explaining financial inclusion of the poor in rural Uganda.
Design/methodology/approach – The study employed a cross-sectional research design and data
were collected from a total of 400 poor households located in Northern, Eastern, Central and
Western Uganda. The authors adopted ordinary least square hierarchical regression analysis to test for the
predictive power of each of the dimensions of social network in explaining financial inclusion of the
poor in rural Uganda. The effects were determined by calculating the significant change in coefficient
of determination (R2) between the dimensions of social network in explaining financial inclusion.
In addition, analysis of variance was also used to test for variation in perceptions of the poor about being
financially included.
Findings – The findings revealed that the dimensions of ties and interaction significantly explain financial
inclusion of the poor in rural Uganda. Contrary to previous studies, the results indicated that interdependence
as a dimension of social network is not a significant predictor of financial inclusion of the poor in rural
Uganda. Combined together, the dimensions of social network explains about 16.6 percent of the variation in
financial inclusion of the poor in rural Uganda.
Research limitations/implications – The study was purely cross-sectional, thus, ignoring longitudinal
survey design, which could have investigated certain characteristics of the variable over time. Additionally,
although a total sample amounting to 400 poor households was used in the study, the results cannot be
generalized since other equally marginalized groups such as the disabled persons, refugees, and immigrants
were not included in this study. Furthermore, the study used only the questionnaire to elicit responses from
the respondents. The use of interview was ignored during data collection.
Practical implications – Policy makers, managers of financial institutions, and financial inclusion
advocates should consider social network dimensions of ties and interaction as conduits for information
flow and sharing among the poor including the women and youth about scarce financial resources like
loans. Advocacy towards creation of societal network that brings the poor together in strong and weak ties
is very important in scaling up access to and use of scarce financial services for improving economic and
social well-being.
Originality/value – Contrary to previous studies, this particular study test the predictive power of each of
the dimensions of social network in explaining financial inclusion of the poor in rural Uganda. Thus, it
methodologically isolates the individual contribution of each of the dimensions of social network in
explaining financial inclusion of the poor. The authors found that only ties and interaction are significant
predictors of financial inclusion of the poor in rural Uganda. Therefore, the findings suggest that not all
dimensions of social network are significant predictors of financial inclusion as opposed to previous
empirical findings.
Description
Keywords
Financial inclusion, Social network, Poor households, Rural Uganda, Information diffusion, Strength of weak ties
Citation
Bongomin, G. O. C., Munene, J. C., Ntayi, J. M., & Malinga, C. A. (2018). Social network: Testing the predictive power of its dimensions in explaining financial inclusion of the poor in rural Uganda. African Journal of Economic and Management Studies. DOI 10.1108/AJEMS-07-2017-0157