Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin, 1966. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

This thesis examines the regulation of 'mobile money'. This is an electronic payment and storage service provided by phone companies ('mobile money firms' or 'MM firms'). The first mobile money service, M-Pesa, was launched in Kenya in 2007. Since then, mobile money has spread rapidly throughout the developing world, particularly across Africa. A novel feature of mobile money is its ability to serve large numbers of people who do not have bank accounts, commonly labelled 'the unbanked'. The thesis offers a framework, based on a functional approach, to analyse the key regulatory and policy issues that arise when customers’ funds are stored and transferred within mobile money platforms. The objectives of this framework are drawn from traditional financial regulation, such as financial stability and consumer protection, and 'financial inclusion', which involves connecting the unbanked to formal, electronic payment and storage functions. The thesis makes three main claims. First, mobile money operates as a shadow retail deposit system. Mobile money is 'shadow' because a customer contracts with a non-banking firm. It is 'retail' because the system meets the payment needs of individuals for ordinary transactions. And the service is a 'deposit' system because a mobile money account provides payment and storage functions which are functionally equivalent to a bank deposit. Second, mobile money provides these payment and storage functions, functionally equivalent to a bank deposit, through a different legal structure to that used by a bank to provide deposit account services. This structure, which is established through private ordering, comprises a set of mechanisms by which the MM firm (the 'agent' in the service) and its associates credibly commit to safeguard the funds of the mobile money customers (the 'principals') for the purposes of providing payment and storage functions. Collectively, these commitments require the MM firm to maintain a 1:1 relationship between cash received from customers, which is stored within the system as highly liquid assets, and 'e-money' which customers use in the mobile money service. As a result, mobile money customers face primarily operational risks, usually without the credit and liquidity risks associated with banking. Third, public ordering can increase the efficiency of MM firms' commitments in addressing risks in mobile money platforms through adopting an 'active' approach to regulation. In this approach, the policymaker monitors a greater range of risks and more closely than what might be expected in other comparable principal-agent relationships, such as retail investors and financial intermediaries, and depositors and banks. This approach is appropriate because unbanked customers are likely to face significant information asymmetries with MM firms and coordination problems amongst themselves. This means they are unlikely to effectively monitor a range of risks to the service caused by the MM firm and its associates.

Widespread adoption of mobile payments has not taken place despite a decade of trials in various countries based upon a mobile phone handset that does not have the technology capabilities of today’s smart phones. However, significant technology developments have led to widespread consumer adoption of smart phones and other devices that may now provide the foundation for wider consumer adoption of mobile payments. Understanding UK consumer cultural perceptions on the new phenomenon is one of the first steps to influencing purchase behaviour. This thesis is based upon a post-positivist philosophy and a social constructionist ontology that explores UK consumer perceptions of mobile payments through human cognitive and affective responses of consumer payment behaviour as these influence attitude that leads to adoption. However, UK consumer interest in mobile payments on its own is unlikely to be enough to change payment behaviour, although meeting specific payment needs can motivate consumers to amend their payment behaviour that can lead to widespread adoption. Inductive empirical research is used to explore UK consumer perceptions of mobile payments through sequential mixed methods. A questionnaire is used as the 1st research instrument with closed questions that explore various aspects of consumer interest in the mobile payments phenomenon. The key themes identified from the numerical analysis of the questionnaire data are used to guide the semi-structured interviews. Content analysis is then undertaken on the qualitative interview data from which new knowledge on consumer perceptions of mobile payments is identified. Analysis of the empirical data suggests that UK consumers have significant technology and security concerns which negatively affect consumer interest. Despite these concerns, UK consumers demonstrate interest in the mobile payments phenomenon when perceived usefulness benefits are identified. The perceived usefulness positively influences attitude that overcomes perceived risks which can lead to amended consumer payment behaviour and widespread adoption. In addition, UK consumers have a significant lack of trust towards unknown organisations as well as new market entrants although there is an increased level of trust in mobile payments provided by UK banks as well as other established organisations. This research fills an important gap in existing literature on consumer payment behaviour as it explores UK consumer cultural perceptions of the mobile payments phenomenon using smart phones and contactless consumer devices; whereas earlier consumer payment research is based upon a mobile phone handset that does not have the technology capabilities of today’s smart phones and has an Asian and Nordic cultural focus. Furthermore, this research provides UK empirical evidence that refines and extends existing research through the use of sequential mixed methods whilst adding to the understanding of UK consumer attitudes related to UK payment instruments.

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The number of economic opportunities on the Internet is growing together with the intensive expansion of internet users. It is important to connect the internet sale of goods and services with electronic payment methods in order to be effective. The aim of the thesis is to describe electronic payments placed on the Internet, description of their different usage and popularity in accordance with geographical location of the customer, assets and risks, and payment costs and fees. This text offers facts that the provider should consider before choosing some payment method, and on the other hand facts which the payers (end users) consider important. Paid-service provider is introduced to different payment instruments with reference to the use in Czech internet environment. Each type of payment method is illustrated by an example with detailed description of installation progress in practical part of the text.

Economists have long known that different cultures pay for goods and services in different ways. This thesis complements the economic research by identifying several elements of social construction for payment method demand in the UK, creating new knowledge in this under researched area. Further social and cultural influences on payment choice can be identified in future consumer behaviour research. As the full social construction of demand for payments is built, it will complete the economic research and more accurately predict future payment method demand. Smartphones, contactless cards and Bit coins may all contribute to a change in the way we pay, but without understanding why we choose a payment method it is impossible to really know. This thesis uses quantitative analysis of primary research to ascertain that there is a correlation between payment methods and shopping value, location of shopping, amount paid and goods/services purchased. The survey (n=676) also collects data on preferences to use cash by amount paid and goods purchased. As a by-product of this survey a correlation between shopping value and demographic segment (gender and ethnicity) is revealed. Factor analysis and structural equation modelling show that hedonic shoppers prefer tactile and exciting forms of payment (attributes associated with cash) and utilitarian shoppers prefer convenient, cost effective, speedy, rewarded and recorded forms of payment (attributes associated with card payments). The mean value for shoppers to switch from cash to cards is £35 but this varies with shopping value, payment preferences and demographic group. Shoppers also habitually buy certain goods with cash, one common factor being the avoidance of a record of their indulgences. This thesis demonstrates that shopping value and various subjective norms of behaviour influence our choice at the checkout, proving the principle that there is a social construction to the demand for payment methods.

The main objective of this diploma thesis is to introduce the history and origin of digital currency Bitcoin and how this project works specifically from the perspective of IT. The thesis contains detailed instructions for the process of implementation Bitcoin payments to the company. This diploma thesis describes the possibilities of abuse and security. Further compares advantages and disadvantages with the classical exchange resources. How is it possible to get this currency, use and how it developed its rate against other world currencies. The thesis also mentions similar cryptocurrencies.

The Community Rating System (CRS) was introduced to encourage flood mitigation and increase National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) participation via premium discounts. It is not clear, however, how additional mitigation and premium discounts affect NFIP participation and damage claims payments. We employ matching methods and log-linear regression framework to estimate the impact of CRS participation (versus non-participation) on outcomes. We also analyze the effect of individual CRS mitigation activities on outcomes. We do so while controlling for key geospatial, socioeconomic, and time effects. Results show a positive and significant effect of CRS participation on NFIP participation, but no significant effect on damage claims payments. Outreach and flood data maintenance activities have positive effect on NFIP participation while floodplain mapping and flood protection have negative effect. Flood protection information and storm water management have negative effect on damage claims payments while floodplain management planning and acquisition and relocation have positive effect.

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