Finclusion: The nexus of Fintech and financial inclusion against banks' market power

The banking literature does not provide consensus over the impact of Fintech on banks. On the one hand, Fintech advancements are poised to enhance the accessibility of financial services; on the other, it can lead to alterations in market structure. Thus, it is important to ascertain the impact of Fintech entry from both perspectives. We examine the impact of Fintech entry on financial inclusion (FI) and banking competition by introducing conditionalities and non-linearity to uncover the potential transmission channels for Fintech to affect inclusion and market structure. Findings suggest episodes of low and medium inclusion from 2005 till 2018. However, post 2018, there has been a significant increase in FI. Similarly, persistent monopolistic tendencies were observed with most banks enjoying higher Lerner margins. The extent of Fintech reveals highly sluggish growth over 2005 to 2015. However, post 2016, drastic increase is observed commensurate with the central bank's regulatory push. Further, Fintech is inversely related to banks' market power indicating a diminishing effect. We propose three transmission mechanisms for Fintech effects: the inclusion channel, the growth channel, and the regulatory environment. In addition, we find a significant and positive impact of Fintech on FI however, the relationship is essentially non-linear.

Challenges and Patterns of Seeking Primary Health Care in Slums of Karachi: A Disaster Lurking in Urban Shadows

This study aimed to evaluate the challenges and patterns of seeking primary health care services in slums of Karachi, where about 60% of the population lives in various informal settlements. We surveyed 8 largest slums of the metropolitan, and analyzed the data both descriptively and inferentially to evaluate the factors associated with health care seeking behavior. Significantly positive association of quality health care seeking behavior and various socioeconomic indicators were found. In addition, substantial insights about the conditions of slum dwellers and health challenges of the population, such as low immunization and low vaccinations, among others, were reported. Thus, the role of policymakers is emphasized to strategize for the inclusion of these people in national health plans and to develop health infrastructure near these communities. Furthermore, there is a strong need to increase awareness of the population about hygiene practices, importance of immunization, and importance of utilizing appropriate health care services.