Consumer Protection for Financial Inclusion in Low and Middle Income Countries

Markets for consumer financial services are growing rapidly in low- and middle-income countries and being transformed by digital technologies and platforms. With growth and change come concerns about protecting consumers from firm exploitation due to imperfect information and contracting as well as from their own decision-making limitations.

This publication seeks to bridge regulator and academic perspectives on these underlying sources of harm and five potential problems that can result: high and hidden prices, overindebtedness, post-contract exploitation, fraud and discrimination. It outlines key areas for future research.