2.0

credits

Average Course Rating

There are 3 billion people around the world that are left out of the formal financial system. The financial excluded, many of whom are low-income, do not have access to the products they need to live financially stable lives and to take advantage of opportunities. They may not have access to a safe savings account, credit to build their business, or insurance in the case of a health emergency. The delivery of quality financial services (loans, savings, insurance, money transfers) at affordable costs to all segments of society is, accordingly, an important policy goal in closing the income gap and improving quality of life. This course is an introduction to financial inclusion with a deeper dive into key questions that are driving the future of how we create more equitable financial systems for the poor. We will hear from several guest lecturers who are considered experts within their fields and who bring first-hand experience in a range of topics -- from managing a large-scale operation to offering digital products to assessing investment opportunities from a venture capital perspective. There is one final project in the course, in which groups of students will present their vision for a new financial inclusion business, informed by a set of core practical and ethical questions related to the industry. Each class will allow students to explore a key question, and will include: How to design products and services for low-income customers? How to use data responsibly? How are you licensed and how do you engage with regulators? How do you price your products and raise funding? How do you address concerns about consumer protection and responsible lending practices for the poor? This course is complementary to SA.400.724.01 Venture Capital and Impact Investing offered as a two-credit course in the second half of the Spring semester.