Examinando por Autor "Méndez, Alvaro"

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How sustainable banking fosters the SDG 10 in weak institutional environments
(Elsevier, 2022) Ubeda, Fernando; Forcadell, Francisco Javier; Aracil, Elisa; Méndez, Alvaro
The role of the financial sector is central in reducing income inequality – the goal of SDG 10 – by facilitating economic opportunities. However, institutional weaknesses may also undermine this effect. We argue that sustainable banking generates bidirectional trust to overcome institutional weaknesses, particularly the weak rule of law. Empirical evidence from 46 countries aggregating data of 1060 banks over 2010–2017 shows that sustainable banking lessens income inequality in weak rule of law settings. The results are robust after including the effects of bank digitalisation. This study has important implications for sustainable banking expansion into weak institutional environments and demonstrates banks’ efforts in their commitment to reducing inequality.
Russia–Ukraine crisis: China’s Belt Road Initiative at the crossroads
(Springer, 2022) Méndez, Alvaro; Forcadell, Francisco Javier; Horiachko, Kateryna
China’s Belt Road Initiative (BRI) is an ambitious programme to connect Asia with Europe, Africa, and Latin America via transport networks on land and sea in hopes of advancing economic integration, increasing trade, and stimulating growth. Ukraine occupies a strategic location in the BRI, near the intersection of Europe and Asia, rendering it a potential “gateway to Europe.” Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is having a disruptive effect and poses numerous challenges for the Initiative, as it has affected some of the pillars and overall goals of the BRI. As it stands, however, infrastructure connectivity is being set back by three developments: fewer funding options, less international cooperation, and geopolitical shocks. Second, unimpeded trade via the BRI is being affected as the war causes disruptions to global value chains, weakens free trade, and sharpens food and energy insecurity. But where there are risks, there are also potential favourable circumstances for the BRI, including opportunities for China to get involved in the reconstruction of a war-ravaged Ukraine.
The sustainable practices of multinational banks as drivers of financial inclusion in developing countries
(Elsevier, 2023) Ubeda, Fernando; Méndez, Alvaro; Forcadell, Francisco Javier
Lack of access to banking generates inequality in the developing world; therefore, financial inclusion is a crucial objective of the Sustainable Development Goals. We investigate the impact of sustainable practices of multinational banks (MNBs) on financial inclusion. A sample of 275 MNBs, 16 developing countries, and 16,618 individuals yield robust evidence confirming the positive effect of such practices on financial inclusion. Specifically, we find that as MNBs become sustainable, the use of mobile banking intensifies. This finding is consequential because mobile banking is one of the most powerful means to achieve financial inclusion in the developing world.