Kenya’s mobile money service, M-Pesa, shapes—and is shaped by—social networks in Kenya. In this post, part of the Digital Human Finance series, we explore anthropologist Sibel Kusimba’s research on mobile money in Kenya.

Finthropology is pleased to announce a new blog series—Digital Human Finance—that highlights the human aspects of digital transformation. We share findings from qualitative research in finance to illustrate the usefulness of understanding human behaviour in community contexts.

Today’s finance industry generally agrees that data-driven decisions make for good business and great design. But what decisions are and aren’t we able to make from quantitative data alone? When must qualitative data step in? The Apply Club Finance held an event to discuss these issues.

Finance is not something we usually associate with human sentiments. While we covet money, we usually see it as a means to an end. Yet there is no doubt that money is associated with emotions and is more about people than it is about numbers. How can we rethink finance as human?