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Village savings and loans has become a prominent financing option for micro and small enterprises in the Lilongwe District, Malawi. Despite this, its impact on the performances of micro and small enterprises (MSEs) are yet to be ascertained. Hence, this study aimed at assessing the effect of VSLAs on the performance of MSEs in Lilongwe, Malawi. The study used a comparative study by comparing VSLA member enterprises with non-VSLA member firms using with and without approach. Test of mean difference and multiple regression analysis was performed on the data obtained. The findings of the study indicated MSEs with access to VSLA services performed better than non-VSLA enterprises. It is, therefore, recommended that owners of micro enterprises join VSLAs to boost their performance through readily available loans and savings and capacity building through training and education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Financial development impacts a country's economic growth and development. Due to this, many nations have sought new ways to bring about financial sector development. For developing economies, innovations in the financial sector are a sure bet for the development of financial inclusion. Mobile money is one of them. However, as the financial sector innovate, the Central Bank may lose control, rendering monetary policy ineffective. Therefore, this study examines one such innovation's effect on monetary policy effectiveness. Using SVAR and monthly data spanning from January 2012 to December 2018, the study found that monetary policy becomes less effective under mobile money growth. The study further revealed that policy rates respond to mobile money growth in Ghana. In conducting monetary policy in Ghana, the study recommends that the monetary policy authority includes mobile money activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Punitive measure against anyone is for correctional purpose and making individuals become better citizens. In this regard, incarceration is supposed to lead to the rehabilitation of individuals to make them socially fit. However, ex-convicts face challenges in society including employment. Therefore, this study explores the willingness of an employer to employ an ex-convict. To achieve the objectives, a survey research design was adopted, and the responses obtained from a sample of 283 SME owners in the Western Region of Ghana. The findings show a high level of un-willingness of SME business to employing ex-convict. Again, employers and owners of SMEs have a negative inclination toward hiring ex-convicts. However, individuals with high levels of education and skills were found to have a better chance of being gainfully employed. To help the situation, education, training, tax reliefs and development of legal framework toward employing ex-convict would help deal with this situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]