Tim Harford introduces inventions, ideas and innovations that have helped to create the modern economic world. Transferring money by text message is far safer than cash.
Transferring money by text message is far safer and more convenient than cash. M-Pesa, as it is known, first took off in Kenya. The idea was to make it easier for small businesses to repay micro-finance loans. But, almost immediately, M-Pesa exploded into something far bigger - there are now 100 times more M-Pesa kiosks than ATMs in Kenya - and with far-reaching consequences, in many developing economies. Tim Harford describes how money transferred this way is easy to trace, which is bad news for the corrupt. And good news for tax authorities.
Last on
More episodes
Previous
Next
Broadcast
- Thu 30 Mar 2017 12:04大象传媒 Radio 4
Download this programme
Listen to this series anytime, anywhere. Full series available now.