Adoption And Impacts Of Digital Payment Technologies: Evidence From Informal Transit

This project investigates how digital payment technologies affect business operations and employment relationships in Dakar’s informal taxi sector. In partnership with Wave, a leading mobile money provider, researchers introduced QR code–based digital payments to 1,200 taxi owners and drivers through a randomized evaluation. The study aims to understand how varying levels of transaction visibility between drivers and owners influence adoption, trust, and contract dynamics. By examining the balance between transparency and privacy in digital transactions, the research seeks to generate insights on how digital payment systems can enhance efficiency, accountability, and financial inclusion in informal labor markets.