Explore the vast range of titles available.

Financial inclusion is critical for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Therefore, as there is a lack of extant studies linking financial inclusion to the SDGs, this present study used a panel regression model to examine the individual and combined effects of financial inclusion on the SDGs in selected countries between 2017 to 2020. As most extant studies have only examined specific SDGs individually, this present study is the first to examine the correlation between financial inclusion and finance-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The findings indicate that financial inclusion positively correlates to the 2nd, 5th, and 8th SDGs but not significantly enough to the 1st, 3rd, 9th, and 10th SDGs. A significant and positive correlation was also identified between financial inclusion and sustainable development in its entirety (finance-related SDG index). As financial inclusion may not directly affect all the SDGs, the uniqueness of this present study is that it examines seven finance-related aspects of SDGs, as outlined by the World Bank. The findings could encourage policymakers to increase efforts to raise the extent of financial inclusion to enhance the finance-related SDGs.

This study sought to investigate the impact of AI on digital financial inclusion. Digital financial inclusion is becoming central in the debate on how to ensure that people who are at the lower levels of the pyramid become financially active. Fintech companies are using AI and its various applications to ensure that the goal of digital financial inclusion is realized that is to ensure that low-income earners, the poor, women, youths, small businesses participate in the mainstream financial market. This study used conceptual and documentary analysis of peer-reviewed journals, reports and other authoritative documents on AI and digital financial inclusion to assess the impact of AI on digital financial inclusion. The present study discovered that AI has a strong influence on digital financial inclusion in areas related to risk detection, measurement and management, addressing the problem of information asymmetry, availing customer support and helpdesk through chatbots and fraud detection and cybersecurity. Therefore, it is recommended that financial institutions and non-financial institutions and governments across the world adopt and scale up the use of AI tools and applications as they present benefits in the quest to ensure that the vulnerable groups of people who are not financially active do participate in the formal financial market with minimum challenges and maximum benefits.

Access to finance is often cited as a key factor for sustainable poverty alleviation, but expanding access to the poor remains an important challenge for financial institutions. Much hope has, therefore, been placed in the transformative power of digital financial inclusion. However, evidence on the relationship between digital financial inclusion and poverty is limited. This paper is one of the first attempts to study the effects of digital financial inclusion on farmers’ vulnerability to poverty in China, using survey data on 1900 rural households. Vulnerability to poverty, here defined as the likelihood of poverty in the future, is measured by the Asset-Based Vulnerability model. In our survey, the proportion of farmers using digital financial services is 35.63%. Our estimations show that farmers’ use of digital financial services have positive effects on reduction in their vulnerability. We also find that such effects rely mainly on improvement in farmers’ ability to cope with risk, that is, alleviating their vulnerability induced by risk. Further investigation reveals that digital financial services provided by ICT companies have a larger impact on farmers’ vulnerability than that provided by traditional banks. The lessons learned from China’s digital financial inclusion is valuable for other developing countries where financial exclusion looms large.

The study aims to show the impact of financial knowledge among rural consumers’ access to financial technology services. In general, knowledge regarding any particular fact helps consumers to select or reject different options. Therefore, knowledge regarding financial services is considered a factor that influences access to financial technology services. This study carries out a survey-oriented method with a structured questionnaire. According to the data category, this study uses three well-known econometric models: logistic regression, probit regression, and complementary log–log regression, have been experimented. This study finds that knowledge regarding various factors significantly impact on access to financial technology services. Mainly, this study has important practical significance for the use of rural finance and financial technology in rural areas, which affects the entire economy.

PurposeThis paper aims to assess whether digital financial inclusion (DFI) supports Egypt's CO2 reduction efforts. More specifically, this paper examines the dynamics between digital finance, traditional financial inclusion (TFI) and renewable energy on carbon emission in Egypt.Design/methodology/approachThe study employed the autoregressive distributive lag (ARDL) model for Egypt over the period 1990–2020 to estimate an extended STIRPAT model for long-run linkages of DFI, traditional bank-based financial inclusion and renewable energy on carbon emissions, along with other control variables.FindingsThe results showed that using digital financial services limits carbon emissions in the long run but not in the short run, indicating that Egypt is still in its early stage of digitalization (DFI < 0.5). Moreover, renewable energy proved to have a significant negative impact on carbon emissions in the long run, implying that more investments in renewable energy projects will improve environmental quality.Practical implicationsThe findings from this study help policymakers incorporate DFI policies into climate change adaptation strategies and execute better green growth policies that integrate DFI with energy-efficient technologies investments for a better environment.Social implicationsFoster economic growth and sustinabaility.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature by quantifying the DFI in Egypt using a two-stage principal component analysis and then examines its impact on carbon emission reduction efforts. In addition, this paper extends the research on the environment from the perspective of digital finance, making it possible to excavate more deeply into the relationship between financial inclusion and carbon emission and draw more explicit policy implications for sustainable economic growth.

This study proposes a multi-stakeholder framework to enhance fintech use in Africa, aiming to improve financial inclusion and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. This article analyzes past research and frameworks built to help stakeholders in developing nations adopt fintech, some of which have been tested in African states with limited success. The study recommends prioritizing national ownership, creating an enabling environment for private sector investment, partnering with multilateral development banks and other stakeholders, fostering innovation and digital literacy, and focusing on cost-effective, non-government-guaranteed financing. In accordance with the G20’s High-Level Principles for Digital Financial Inclusion, a country-specific strategy can boost financial technology and digital financial services uptake in Africa. Each government may build a legislative climate that supports innovation and competition, strengthens its digital infrastructure, increases digital literacy and awareness, and collaborates with private sector stakeholders to extend financial inclusion. Partnerships with businesses, international organizations, and other nations can help The Better Than Cash Alliance (TBTCA) promote fintech adoption. Countries can use fintech companies to build and implement national digital payment infrastructure by joining the Alliance. Finally, the mSTAR program advises cooperating with USAID to promote marginalized people, incorporate digital financial services, increase public–private engagement, and educate and train policymakers, practitioners, and technologists. These ideas can help African governments adopt fintech products faster and enhance financial inclusion.

Financial inclusion (FI) for vulnerable populations, such as women, is critical for achieving gender equality, women’s empowerment, and thereby, inclusive growth. Sustainable development goal 5 considers gender equality as a fundamental right and views the empowerment of women as a necessary step. Access to finance is a significant means to empower a person. In this regard, the use of digital financial services is of particular significance for women as it allows them easier access to financial products for business and household needs. For implementing policies to reduce financial exclusion of women, it is necessary to first measure the extent of FI in society. While there are several attempts to measure FI for the general population, there is limited literature on the gender-based measurement of FI. This paper fills this important research gap by developing a gender-based FI index (GFII) focusing particularly on digital services and evaluating the performance of countries across the globe (by considering 109 countries based on data availability) in terms of a gender-based FI measure developed by us. This index is developed using two separate indices, a digital financial service usage index (DFI) and a conventional financial service usage index (CFI). We calculate it for different countries for 2011, 2014, 2017, and 2021 using the Global Findex databaseIt helps us to investigate the performance of different countries over the years in ensuring the financial inclusion of women and how digital services are penetrating over the years. One contribution of the paper is to relate the Gender Development Index (GDI) and Gender Inequality Index (GII) of countries, two well-known measures of inclusive and sustainable development, with GFII and DFI for female (DFIF). This exercise shows that while there is a positive correlation between these two sets of indicators, there are a number of countries that are high (or low) in gender development (or inequality) that need to improve their digital FI. Interestingly, using the Global Findex database and the Feasible Generalized Least Squares (FGLS) and instrumental variable panel data model, we show that health, education, labour force participation rate, and political empowerment of women significantly impact the digital financial inclusion of women. The paper brings out relevant policy suggestions for improving women’s digital financial access and thereby enhancing gender empowerment for faster and more inclusive growth.

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate state-dependency in the nexus between digital financial inclusion and economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa, with the aim of examining the impact of adopting digital financial technology to reduce financial exclusion and contribute to economic growth.   Theoretical Framework: The paper extends the work of Sarma (2008) and Khera et al. (2021), by creating a new financial inclusion index that captures both traditional and digital financial inclusion.   Method: The methodology adopted for this research comprises the principal component analysis (PCA) to identify signals in financial inclusion indicators, thereafter financial inclusion indexes for digital and traditional financial services were constructed. The panel quantile regression methodology was employed to analyse the impact of shocks and determine state dependency in the nexus, respectively. Data collection was carried out through secondary sources.   Results and Discussion: The result confirms a positive relationship between digital financial inclusion and economic growth with the greatest impact in countries with lower real GDP, confirming state dependency.   Research Implications: The findings suggest that policymakers should focus on promoting digital financial inclusion, particularly in countries with low to intermediate levels of income.   Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature by broadening the definition of digital financial inclusion beyond what is currently found in the literature to include vital financial inclusion dimensions such as access to financial services. The relevance and value of this research are further evidenced by the consideration of state-dependency in the relationship between financial inclusion and growth.

Purpose - The literature review stated that financial inclusion (FI) influences economic growth through different channels. Hence, this paper aims to investigate the underlying process of FI in Egypt theoretically, and to derive some policy implications for promoting the process and achieving more improvement in different financial and economic aspects, that is basically through discussing the opinions of FI's main stockholders in Egypt. Design/methodology/approach - The analysis used secondary data from the Global Findex and FAS Database, namely, automated teller machines, outstanding deposits and loans with commercial banks, debit and credit cards ownership. The research particularly used scientific methods as method of deduction, methods of graphical and tabular representation of data, comparative analysis and synthesis of partial knowledge. The paper is also based on a descriptive approach in addition to in-depth interviews with the main stakeholders of the financial inclusion process in Egypt. Findings - The analyzed results of interviews revealed that new FI vision should have a deep understanding of the financial lives of the poor and low-income groups, including how they acquire, manage and use their money. However, the impact is becoming more prominent for the efficiency of the banking system and hence economic growth rather a regulatory and sound institutional framework enhances it. This finding supported the fact that Egypt can design an appropriate FI strategy, but the main challenge is how to implement it with the required speed and outreach capacity, especially in underprivileged communities. Research limitations/implications - The result of this study has interesting implications for Egypt's ability to attain effective FI initiatives that promote sound financial choices and behavior which in turn help to stimulate financial and economic growth. Originality/value - The study contributes to the literature by assessing the FI level in Egypt, its implications and how it should be enhanced for better performance and results in the future. It addresses the deep fact of this process through inclusive surveys and interviews that help in determining the road ahead.

This study examines the effect of digital financial inclusion on relative poverty among urban households in China. Based on the data of the China Family Panel Studies and the Peking University Digital Financial Inclusion Index of China, using the weak relative poverty line to identify relative poverty among urban households, we use a probit model, a mediating effect model, and an instrumental variable method to conduct empirical research. The results reveal that digital financial inclusion helps reduce the probability that urban households will fall into relative poverty. Digital financial inclusion not only promotes entrepreneurship by urban households but also increases their participation in the financial market. The increase in their income flow can be translated into an improvement in the stock of wealth, enabling them to avoid falling into relative poverty. But this effect is heterogeneous. Digital investment and digital credit play more important roles than digital payment. It is also more pronounced in households with higher financial literacy and households in smaller cities. In addition, regardless of how the relative poverty line and digital financial inclusion are calculated, our results are robust. The research in this study is important for a comprehensive understanding of the development of digital financial inclusion and urban relative poverty in developing countries such as China.