poverty

Elsewhere on the Web provides updates and links to articles related to cash, money and payments curated on the web.

Lowering interchange fees could be disastrous for rural communities in the UK, already hit hard by bank closures.

There is huge controversy around the cashless welfare card in Australia which cannot be used in cheaper stores not to settle transportation fares of school lunches.

“Cash has been created as the historically most convenient form of money, and carrying cash in the wallet is often perceived as a fundamental human right.” writes Alexei Kireyev. He adds that "de-cashing should not be lead by the public sector."

New services enbable online shoppers to pay cash.

India's demonitisation last November has also affected small microfinance firms - directly impacting small industries, farmers and other unorganised sectors of the economy.

A 10-year study led by the Dutch UNU-Merit University researched the long-term effects of cash transfer programmes in developing countries. The preliminary findings praise the benefits of such programmes as vectors for improved nutrition and poverty reduction.

India is not ready to go cashless despite the government's push to do so. Infrastructure is not up-to-speed, a large portion of the population is either unbanked or illiterate or both and it's a luxury to have internet access at home in rural areas.

For decades, policymakers have been concerned that cash transfers to poor households would be wasted on temptation goods, such as cigarettes and alcohol and other non-essential forms of consumption. New research shows the opposite is true.

Worldwide, over two billion people are unbanked. In Europe, 139 million people are financially excluded and rely on cash for their daily purchases.

The continuing cash shortage in Zimbabwe is having adverse effects on people's health.

The surprise demontization of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes, which represent 84% of cash in circulation in India, will fall disproportionately on the poor.