Gaps in economic opportunities have made it difficult for all individuals to take part in the global payments ecosystem. To address those gaps, society needs public policies designed to empower citizens, small businesses, and economies alike.
That's where VEEI has an important role to play. We're an independent center of excellence—established by Visa—that develops research and insights that can help inform and promote policies that will help all people thrive.
Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs) have long maintained a unique position in the financial services industry as the institutions that understand and can serve their communities better than any other financial institution segment. Recent financial shock has increased the challenges these important institutions are already facing. In this paper we assess recent trends in an important sector of US community banks and propose some collective actions solutions for enhancing their competitiveness.
During the past five years, increased participation in the digital economy has fueled improvements to incomes, livelihoods, and well-being. This note provides guidelines for what like-minded stakeholders in the public and private sector can do together to drive equitable participation in the digital economy amidst rapid technological advancement.
A framework for digital equity and inclusion through opportunity, skills and trust.
This paper explores the factors that contribute to the success of women-led firms, and offers policymakers a set of recommendations to help them grow.
This paper explores the results of a survey of businesses in the United Kingdom (UK) and finds that digital capabilities—in terms of payments, access to online marketplaces, and cross-border reach—are key to small business recovery and resilience.
VEEI and the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism surveyed businesses in Dubai and found that digital capabilities are key to small business recovery and resilience. The paper offers recommendations to further promote and empower micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which are a key pillar of Dubai’s economy.
More women around the word have gained access to a financial account—helping to narrow the financial access gender gap. But access is not enough. In this paper we set out a roadmap to move beyond access towards economic empowerment and focus on how digital skills can power female entrepreneurs beyond access to empowerment. This paper is accompanied by a video of our case study.
This call to action proposes five strategies that governments can adopt to address the severe gender gaps and support women’s economic empowerment in LAC/Este documento presenta cinqo estrategias para cerrar las desigualdades de género y promover a las mujeres en América Latina y el Caribe.
New barriers and regulatory fragmentation in the digital economy risk harming global economic growth. International economic cooperation can help countries innovate and grow without sacrificing resilience, system safety, and protection of consumers.
This paper details the Visa Economic Empowerment Institute’s 2023 research into remittance options and costs for 50 global corridors. It finds that an “under 3 percent” cost option was available in 40 of the 50 corridors, but a key need is digitally enabling migrant workers to find the options that are best for them. Other insights are offered from the new data, many of which relate to VEEI’s previous remittance policy recommendations.
This paper illustrates the important role open-loop payments play in creating frictionless, sustainable and inclusive urban mobility ecosystems.
There are three main types of cross-border payment solutions available today, and they operate in different ways across the experience, rules and processes, and infrastructure layers to meet the needs of end users. This paper encourages policymakers to take a more nuanced look at cross-border payments and how solutions satisfy distinct needs as improvement opportunities are identified and prioritized.
There are more cross-border payment attributes than are often discussed, and consumers, businesses, and remittance senders place different priorities on the attributes according to their needs for a given use case. This paper gives a voice to end users and encourages policymakers to take a more nuanced look at cross-border payments and the distinctive needs they satisfy as improvement opportunities are identified and prioritized.
The paper examines the latest global remittance trends; describes the advantages of digital remittances and digital enablement of migrant workers, their families, and communities; and offers five recommendations for unlocking the benefits of innovation and competition for everyone, everywhere. See these key insights and recommendations for a shorter summary of the paper.
This paper provides our perspective on which of the G7 principles should be considered first; what matters in payment transactions; and, based on our experience operating VisaNet for several decades, what have we learnt that can be applied to CBDC (central bank digital currencies).
Market-led innovation is critical in continuously improving the cross-border payments experience for consumers, businesses, governments, and all participants across the value chain.
Over 100 central banks are in some stage of researching or developing digital currencies. We offer policymakers who are exploring a CBDC a series of tough questions to address as they decide whether and how to move forward.
Messaging standards are core to the payment system, enabling institutions across sectors to connect and transact efficiently and effectively.
We develop the research and insights, and uncover data that can be used to create policies that encourage the participation of all people in the payments ecosystem.
To accomplish this, we currently focus on three areas:
Our work is focused on societal issues, inclusive economic growth, financial inclusion, small business recovery and resilience, and government partnerships.
Progressive digital and cross-border trade offers growth opportunities that can improve the economic future of individuals, businesses, and governments.
We identify opportunities for the public and private sectors to work together to sustain an open and innovative payments ecosystem so that individuals, businesses, and economies can thrive.
Inclusive economic empowerment is Visa’s number one priority. You can see it in our initiatives, in how we treat our people, and in the way our business elevates members of our network
—Al Kelly, Executive Chairman, Visa