Blended Finance for Development in Papua
We are thrilled to announce that our paper titled "Beyond Cash: Household Blended Finance as a Driver of Inclusive Growth in Papua" has been published in the Journal of Rural and Regional Innovation Studies.
Abstract: Blended finance at the household level—simultaneous use of at least two sources from formal, semi-formal, and informal channels—remains underexplored in underdeveloped regions. Using SUSENAS March 2018 for household level in Papua, we examine the determinants of household adoption, its welfare correlates (per-capita expenditure), and its heterogeneity by rural–urban. Findings from logit regression show that head’s education increases the probability of blended finance, while rural residence reduces it; female-headed households display a higher propensity to combine sources. Linear models with interaction terms indicate that blended finance is positively associated with per-capita expenditure, with stronger effects in rural areas. Robustness checks include alternative definitions (formal+informal), probit/logit consistency, and exclusion of potential outliers. We interpret the results as evidence that community-based financial ecosystems (cooperatives, village-owned enterprises/BUMDes, and trusted individual networks) complement limited bank penetration. Policy should prioritise village-centered literacy, interoperability between semi-formal and formal providers, and support for BUMDes/cooperatives as gateways to formal finance
How to cite:
Leksono, FT., Soseco, T., Hidayati, I., Cahayati, N. (2025). Beyond Cash: Household Blended Finance as a Driver of Inclusive Growth in Papua. Journal of Rural and Regional Studies.1(1)16-28. https://journal.unesa.ac.id/index.php/jorris/article/view/45705
,%20Volume%201%20Number%201%20(2025)_cover.png)
.png)