Promoting full-fledged electronic money in South Asia: Evidence from Bangladesh

Abstract

The study aims to develop several models for instigating full-fledged electronic money and to study prospects and challenges in the digitization process in the context of South Asian countries such as Bangladesh. Besides, the economic effect of full digitization of currency was analyzed considering its impact on vital economic indicators. Regression analysis, factor analysis and structural equation modeling were used to analyze data. The study suggests some models within the existing financial framework to support the process of instigating and implementing full-fledged electronic money in Bangladesh. The research defines a full-fledged e-money mechanism as a consumption-driven, production-oriented, creditworthy, cost-effective, prompt, technologically based inclusive payment system, as a prospect of full-fledged e-money. Besides, the requirement of an advanced technological infrastructure having secured and user-friendly software with high-speed internet services is identified as a major challenge to full-fledged e-money. The study also found out that a revolutionary change in GDP growth rate and inflation rate will occur through this mechanism.