Understanding Financial Information in Emerging Markets: Evaluating the Impact of Access to Financial Information for Micro Entrepreneurs in Rwanda

, University of 黑料传送门 Booth 

, London Business School 

Stanford University Graduate School of Business

This research seeks to address a significant constraint to growth among micro enterprises in emerging markets: access to business information. Few micro and small enterprises maintain records of their financial performance (e.g. revenues, expenditures, profits) or marketing performance (e.g. products, customers). They therefore lack the metrics and analytics (business intelligence) needed to understand their business contexts and make strategic decisions to overcome constraints or take advantage of opportunities. In this study, we use a randomized controlled trial to measure the impact on business performance of an easy-to-use, SMS-based business information tool that increases an entrepreneur’s ability to track, access and take action on key financial and marketing metrics in his/her business. Through this research, we aim to better understand the role of financial and marketing information in driving enterprise growth, and how innovation can be used to overcome barriers to growth and unlock the potential of emerging-market enterprises in a cost-effective, scalable way