Ouagadougou: Student Djiblira Ciss defended his master's thesis in macroeconomics and development management, revealing that electronic money strengthens traditional banking services in the eight countries of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU).
According to Burkina Information Agency, Ciss's thesis, titled "Electronic Money and Traditional Banking Services in WAEMU Countries: An Analysis of Complementarity and Substitution Effects," demonstrated that the proliferation of electronic money enhances the development of traditional banking services. This research focused on the impact of electronic money on traditional banking within WAEMU, assessing whether it fortifies or undermines the conventional banking system.
To achieve his findings, Ciss utilized a panel of data from the eight WAEMU countries spanning the years 2015-2024, employing the two-stage least squares (2SLS) method to address endogeneity issues. The study established a complementary relationship between electronic money and traditional banking services, indicating that digital financial services broaden the banking customer base and improve savings mobilization.
In response to these findings, Ciss proposed several measures to enhance the integration of digital finance with traditional banking systems. These include improving interoperability between banks and electronic money issuers, advancing digital infrastructures, and implementing financial inclusion policies that facilitate the integration of digital and traditional banking.
The thesis defense concluded with high praise from the jury, including President Professor Relwend Sawadogo, Thesis Director Professor Issa Dianda, Co-director Dr. Pousbila Dianda, and Rapporteur Dr. Si Enest Youl. They commended the relevance of the research topic and the quality of the scientific work, awarding the thesis the highest distinction, while also suggesting amendments for further refinement.
Through his research, Djiblira Ciss not only completed his master's thesis but also made a significant contribution to the body of scientific work in Burkina Faso, particularly concerning digital finance, financial inclusion, and the evolution of the banking system within the WAEMU region.