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This study aims to investigate the factors contributing to the low adoption rate of mobile money services (MMS) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region compared to other regions. The study focussed on socio-demographic factors and macro-level determinants in several selected MENA and Sub-Saharan African (SSA) regions where MMS have been successful.

This study analysed 23 countries across MENA and SSA to establish the correlation between socio and macroeconomic factors and MMS adoption using a quantitative approach. The analysis used the generalized least square (GLS) method.

The study revealed that gender and income are factors that positively influence the adoption of MMS in MENA and SSA regions. Additionally, the study found that the affordability index, which measures macroeconomic indicators, correlates with MMS adoption in both regions but in an inversed way. On the other hand, political stability appears to have a positive correlation with MMS adoption in the MENA region. The correlation between the regulatory index and MMS adoption positively impacts the entire study group, although it is insignificant in the SSA region.

Future studies should assess market competition among MMS providers and the psychological aspect of user adoption behaviour. Additionally, conducting a focus group discussion with stakeholders in the MMS industry can assist in uncovering potential factors contributing to low MMS adoption in the MENA region.

This study contributes to understanding the role of the socio-demographic and macroeconomic determinants in promoting digital transformation through adopting MMS.

This paper aims to examine the impact of capital regulation, ownership structure and the degree of ownership concentration on the risk of commercial banks.

This study uses a sample of 565 commercial banks from 52 countries over the period of 2011-2015. A dynamic panel data model estimation using the maximum likelihood with structural equation modelling (SEM) was followed considering the panel nature of this study.

The study found that the increase of capital ratio decreases bank risk and the regulatory pressure increases the risk-taking of the bank. No statistically significant relationship between banks’ ownership structure and risk-taking was found. The concentration of ownership was found negatively associated with bank risk. Finally, the study found that in the long term, bank increases the capital level that decreases the default risk.

This study presents an empirical analysis on the global banking system focusing on the Basel Committee member and non-member countries that reflect the implementation of Basel II and Basel III. Therefore, it helps fill the gap in the banking literature on the effect of recent changes in the capital regulation on bank risk. Maximum likelihood with SEM addresses the issue of endogeneity, efficiency and time-invariant variables. Moreover, this study measures the risk by different proxy variables that address total, default and liquidity risks of the banks. Examining from a different perspective of risk makes the study more robust.