Thangaraj Ravikumar

The lockdowns and restrictions imposed to control COVID-19 have made life miserable for people, especially those involved in informal economic activities. The pandemic induced financial hardships, caused financial anxiety and financial stress among informal sector participants. This study aimed to measure and analyze the financial stress and financial insecurity of one of the important informal sector elements (street vendors) in India. Street vendors in Bangalore were interviewed in this descriptive research through personal interaction and telephonic interviews. The collected primary data were processed using SPSS statistical package. The results have indicated that the pandemic inflicted financial stress on street vendors irrespective of their gender, marital status, age, education, monthly income, and type of product dealt. Financial stress levels varied depending on the number of dependents of street vendors and their business nature. Financial literacy differed according to street vendors’ marital status. A person becomes extremely sensitive and cautious in personal finance matters on getting married. Financial stress and financial literacy correlated negatively. 89.5% of street vendors perceived that they had financial insecurity in the future due to this pandemic. The results indicated that financial stress and financial literacy did not affect financial insecurity perceptions of street vendors. The predictors of financial insecurity have been marital status and the number of dependents of the street vendors (r2: 16.6%). However, marital status alone impacted the 6% variance in financial insecurity. This study concluded that the pandemic caused financial stress and financial insecurity among street vendors, but not financial stress and financial literacy.

Digital Financial Services (DFS) have been growing steadily all over the world. The COVID-19 crisis has reinforced the need for DFS. This study aims to examine the growth of DFS in the global and Indian markets and to analyze the factors that change the mindsets and attitudes of adults towards the adoption of DFS during the pandemic. The growth of DFS is analyzed using secondary data. The changing customer mindset is studied and analyzed through primary data collected by a survey approach. The unit of analysis includes adults who use or prefer to use DFS. A total of 384 respondents, determined by Krejcie and Morgan formula, were personally interviewed. 384 is taken as sample size as this sample size avoids type II errors in the data analysis. The collected data were processed in SPSS21 software. The study results found that technological benefits (67.9%) have the most significant positive effect on changing people’s mindsets and attitudes towards DFS followed by the pandemic forces (50.7%). Peer influences (33.2%) and perceived trust (38.3%) have also affected the change in mindsets and attitudes of adults regarding DFS. But the change in mindset is significantly and positively influenced by perceived risk (50.1%) rather than affecting negatively. So, the factors are confirmed again. The factors that drive changes in mindsets and attitudes of adults towards the adoption of DFS are Pandemic Forces & Convenience, Perceived Safety and Security, User Benefits and Experiences, Peer Influences, and Perceived Trust during the pandemic.

Micro and small businesses financially suffered due to COVID-19 in India. This financial suffering created financial stress among them and deteriorated their financial well-being. However, micro and small business owners exhibit financial resilience by bouncing back to regular business activities through their hope, optimism, and self-efficacy, which are the components of positive psychological capital. This study analyzes the relationship between financial stress and financial well-being of micro and small firm owners keeping financial resilience as a mediator and positive psychological capital as a moderator in the mediation. This descriptive analysis employed a survey method to collect primary data using the interview method. The interview method was used as most micro and small business owners are comfortable with interaction rather than filling out the questionnaires due to the language barrier. The sample size is 384 respondents, as per Krejcie and Morgan’s formula. The mean scores indicate a moderate degree of financial stress (2.354), financial resilience (2.623), and financial well-being (2.637). The level of financial stress differs based on the respondents’ gender. Financial stress is more among female business owners (2.504) than their male counterparts (2.265).
Further, business owners who earn more have a higher level of financial resilience (2.985), psychological capital (2.951), and financial well-being (2.711). Financial stress significantly impacts financial well-being (28.4%). Financial resilience has a partial mediation effect (65%) on financial stress and financial well-being. Finally, psychological capital moderates indirect relationships among financial stress, financial resilience, and financial well-being.