[dmcdm]

This makes a lot of sense and seems obvious, actually. I'm surprised the author didn't make that connection, especially while pointing out that sometimes the fancy motorbike would be owned by an old Grandpa who had no intention of riding it, and rather spent all day polishing it (that is, trying to mitigate depreciation).

[olliej]

Not as fun an article? Or at least maybe they didn't think it was?

I think the entire thing was interesting and could have stood on its own, but maybe that conceit provided a thread to tie the article together?

Also, in response to the M-Pesa comment, I did a quick googling, and it looks like as of 2014 only 5% of Malagasy had a bank account at all.