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This book is unique in that it challenges scholarly views on financial inclusion and poverty reduction while also relating financial inclusion and poverty reduction to the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The book deviates from the usual method of analyzing financial inclusion, which relies on bank accounts or microcredit as success criteria, and instead discusses how the Fourth Industrial Revolution is facilitating digital financial inclusion. With a five-fold goal, this book investigates both past and present readings and understandings of poverty and financial inclusion. To begin, it provides a thorough introduction to the Fourth Industrial Revolution and financial inclusion in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Second, the book dives quite extensively into the theories of financial inclusion in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Third, the book reconstructs the theory of financial inclusion, moving from traditional to digital financial inclusion, highlighting the role of digital financial inclusion in the transition from an informal financial money market to a formal financial system. The fourth goal is to evaluate the tools and effects of digital financial inclusion on poverty. Finally, it provides case studies of digital financial inclusion and the future of digital financial inclusion in emerging and developing countries. This book will be of interest to academics, students and practitioners in a range of disciplines, including finance, development economics, and consumer economics.

This book investigates how smart technologies can play a crucial role in the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Focusing on FinTech as well as artificial intelligence, the author demonstrates how one of the most effective strategies for accelerating progress toward global development goals is to make use of emerging technologies to broaden and deepen the scope of action. The first part of the book offers a historical perspective on sustainable development, financial technology and the emergence of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, while the second part looks in-depth at new technologies that can contribute to the realization of the SDGs. The power of AI to reduce poverty and increase food security, the implications of digital innovations for education, the impact of AI on clean transport, the role of FinTech in mitigating climate change, and ways in which AI can aid financial inclusion are all discussed.

Examines whether the technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, such as AI, will lead to greater economic uncertainty, environmental collapse and social unrest, or whether they will help achieve shared prosperity and sustainable development, and successively the SDGs.

"This book explores the significant impact of FinTech on the financial industry and how it could be used to promote legitimate development in the global economy. It takes readers on an engaging tour of the field of FinTech, immersing them in a thorough investigation of the technological advancements, creative business models, and regulatory issues that define the FinTech landscape. The book begins by documenting the rise of FinTech, providing historical context, and highlighting key milestones. It delves into the numerous technologies that have fueled the FinTech revolution and offers valuable insights into the ongoing evolution of the financial industry and its implications for individuals, businesses, and society. It explores topics such as microfinance, digital lending, social impact investing, and sustainable finance, signalling the ability of FinTech to foster financial inclusion, reduce poverty, and drive sustainable economic growth in developing economies. The book takes into account ethical as well as regulatory considerations, and the importance of striking a balance between innovation and consumer protection. The book offers a comparative regional perspective and provides case studies of successful FinTech organisations from across the world. It concludes by providing an in-depth exploration of future trends and predictions, with a specific focus on emerging technologies such as ChatGPT and their potential impact. This will be a useful reference for researchers, scholars and students, concerned with the changing dynamics of the industry in an increasingly digital and interconnected world"--

The Impact of Digital Transformation provides an in-depth look at how digital technologies are revolutionizing industries, public services, and societies across the globe. Through expert analysis, this book unpacks the implications of digital twin models in public auditing, Industry 4.0 challenges in education, and the rapid changes in the workforce spurred by COVID-19. Each chapter highlights the critical factors driving this transformation and examines its effects on the public and private sectors alike. Covering a diverse range of case studies from South Africa, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and beyond, the book explores how digital transformation is influencing economies and policy reform in both emerging and developed markets. Readers will gain insights into how countries are leveraging digital advancements to improve governance, increase transparency, and adapt to global technological shifts. The challenges of integrating sustainable practices and innovating urban spaces, such as Sofia's smart city initiatives, underscore the complex relationship between technology and society. This book serves as both a guide and a roadmap for navigating the opportunities and obstacles of the digital age. From defining objective KPIs to measure digital success to understanding the role of data in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, The Impact of Digital Transformation is essential reading for professionals, policymakers, and academics eager to understand how digital change is reshaping our world.

"AI in Hospital Administration: Revolutionizing Healthcare is a groundbreaking book that explores the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in the field of hospital administration and its profound impact on revolutionizing healthcare. In this book is drawing on existing academic literature and interdisciplinary research, to provide a comprehensive overview of cutting-edge AI technologies and their applications in hospital administration. The book begins by highlighting basics of AI and then moves to the pressing challenges faced by hospital administrators, such as long wait times, inefficient scheduling, inaccurate forecasting, and suboptimal resource allocation. It emphasizes the need for effective management and decision-making strategies to optimize patient outcomes while ensuring efficient resource utilization. While AI has seen significant advancements in areas like medical imaging and clinical decision support systems, its role in hospital administration remains relatively understudied. This book aims to fill this gap by delving into the complexities of managing patient flow, optimizing resource allocation, ensuring effective staff scheduling, and implementing data-driven decision-making processes. The book explores various AI-powered solutions, including machine learning, natural language processing, and predictive analytics, and their potential to alleviate these challenges. They also discuss ethical considerations and potential barriers associated with AI adoption in healthcare, such as privacy concerns, data security, and the human-machine interface. To provide practical insights, the book includes real-world case studies and examples of successful AI implementations in hospital administration. By doing so, it equips healthcare professionals, administrators, policymakers, and researchers with the knowledge and tools necessary to leverage AI effectively, foster innovation, and drive positive change in healthcare organizations. In short, AI in Hospital Administration: Revolutionizing Healthcare addresses the gap in academic literature surrounding the role of AI in hospital administration. It offers a comprehensive understanding of the challenges, limitations, and opportunities in this domain, stimulating further research and promoting informed decision-making. The book envisions a future where AI plays a central role in transforming healthcare administration for the better"--

This book responds to calls for a systematic approach in understanding the transformations in the social media marketing landscape. To narrow the focus, the book takes a developing economy perspective and presents a comprehensive understanding of social media practices and how these can be integrated in firms’ operational activities to create a competitive advantage. In emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs), social media provides a technological solution to the economic challenges faced by governments, firms, and people at the bottom of the economic pyramid. Social media is often considered to be fundamentally changing the business paradigm and is increasingly integrated into the marketing function, and EMDEs seem to be quickly finding out that it offers them a relatively low-cost opportunity to potentially leapfrog the competition in developed markets. By using social technology to reach users in different market segments in ways that were impossible before, social sites such as Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) create tremendous new growth opportunities for businesses. As businesses embrace social media solutions however, some challenges emerge in the adoption, utilisation, integration, and implementation of social media systems and tools in EMDEs— hence the need to provide pathways to better integrate social media into the marketing activities of emerging market institutions. This book provides practical guidance on the use of social media in marketing management. It provides contemporary perspectives on social media marketing, and while it is aimed primarily at practitioners, it could also serve as teaching text for undergraduate and postgraduate teaching programmes.

Nelson Mandela is the world's greatest idol. He has been mythologised as a flawless hero of the liberation struggle. But how exactly did his early personal and political life shape the triumphs to come? This book goes behind the myth to find the man who people have forgotten or never knew - Young Mandela, the commited freedom fighter, who left his wife and children behind to go on the run from the police in the early 1960s. For the first time, we have evidence of a specific personal motivation for Mandela's fight against apartheid, and the book sheds light on the significant extent to which Mandela relied on white activists - a part of South African history the ANC has ignored or tried to bury. Mandela's historic achievements came with a heavy price - this biography graphically describes the emotional turmoil he left in his wake. After meticulous research, and taking a lead from Mandela's trusted circle, the author discovers much that is new, with many surprising, sometimes shocking details that will enhance our understanding of the world's elder statesman. Sanctified, lionised, it turns out that Mandela is a human being after all, only too aware of his flaws and shortcomings. With unique access to people and papers, culminating in a meeting with Nelson Mandela himself, David James Smith has written the single most important contribution to our knowledge of this global icon.