Financial inclusion washing
ISSN: 1359-0790
Article publication date: 30 August 2022
Issue publication date: 30 November 2023
Abstract
Purpose
Financial inclusion washing has not been considered to be a crime although it should be. This paper aims to present a discussion about financial inclusion washing. It was argued that financial inclusion washing is the deliberate or unintentional use of exaggerated claims or misleading claims to describe an entity’s commitment to increase the level of financial inclusion.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper used the conceptual discourse analysis methodology.
Findings
This paper showed that many entities are at risk of practicing financial inclusion washing such as international development organizations, aid organizations, government agencies, central banks, financial institutions, financial inclusion support groups and associations, among others. This paper also highlighted the manifestations, motivations and consequences of financial inclusion washing. This paper also identified ways through which entities can avoid financial inclusion washing.
Originality/value
The literature has not examined how exaggerated claims about financial inclusion efforts mislead people.
Keywords
Citation
Ozili, P.K. (2023), "Financial inclusion washing", Journal of Financial Crime, Vol. 30 No. 5, pp. 1140-1149. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFC-07-2022-0159
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited