The Role of Fintech in Bridging the Divide for Economic Empowerment

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2478/eb-2023-0013

Keywords:

Bridging divide, challenges, financial technology, Fintech, impact, role

Abstract

The financial industry is experiencing transformation through the emergence of Financial Technology (Fintech) which brings forth fresh and innovative approaches to accessing and managing financial services. As digital financial services continue to disrupt traditional banking systems, they have the potential to significantly reduce disparity. This study explores the impacts of Fintech on promoting inclusion enabling access to capital and fostering economic empowerment. It sheds light on how Fintech advancements play a role in addressing economic gaps. Through a comprehensive review, this research highlights how Fintech innovations improve access for underserved populations. It examines both success stories and challenges faced in regions emphasising how adaptable Fintech solutions are within socioeconomic contexts, and ultimately underscores the power of Fintech as a catalyst for promoting inclusivity and empowerment in the economy. By providing insights into how Fintech divides, this study offers guidance for policymakers, financial institutions, entrepreneurs, and researchers who aim to leverage financial technology for fostering inclusivity and prosperity.

References

Acharya, V. V., & Sundararajan, A. (2020). Fintech, financial inclusion, and consumer protection. Journal of Financial Intermediaries, 78, Article 101368

Acquisti, A., Brandimarte, L., & Loewenstein, G. (2015). Privacy and human behavior in the age of information. Science, 347(6221), 509–514. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaa1465

Agarwal, S., & Bhutta, N. (2023). The impact of digital banks on financial inclusion and well-being. Journal of Banking & Finance, 141, Article 106219.

Akerlof, G., & Shiller, R. J. (2003). Phishing for fools: How lucky investors make money and why you don't. Princeton University Press.

Akhtar, R., & Franco, D. (2020). Fintech and financial inclusion: Evidence from emerging economies. Journal of Banking & Finance, 114, Article 105840.

Allen, F., Carletti, E., & Marquez, R. (2019). Credit market competition and the gender gap in labor force participation: Evidence from local labor markets. Journal of Finance, 74(5), 2629–2676. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=813066

Allen, J., & Lepenies, B. (2017). Inequality and the internet: The digital divide in the United States. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 31(3), 7–18.

Altman, M., & Tenev, S. (2017). Fintech for small businesses: A review of the literature and an agenda for future research. Journal of Small Business Management, 55(5), 1354–1378.

Arner, D. W., Barberis, J., & Buckley, R. P. (2016). The evolution of Fintech: A new post-crisis paradigm? Georgetown Journal of International Law, 47, 1271–1319. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2676553

Bhattacharya, D., & Chandra, H. (2022). The impact of Paytm on financial inclusion in India. Journal of Development Economics, 156, Article 102737.

Bhutta, N., & Skiba, A. R. (2022a). The impact of digital banking on financial inclusion and well-being: A cross-country analysis. Journal of Financial Economics, 144(1), Article 105243.

Bhutta, N., & Skiba, A. R. (2022b). The impact of financial education on credit scores and borrowing behavior. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 194, 68–87.

Bordo, M. D., & Fazio, G. (2013). The future of international payments: A new paradigm? Journal of Economic Perspectives, 27(3), 65–82.

Brocke, J. V., Simons, A., Riemer, K., Niehaves, B., Plattfaut, R., & Cleven, A. (2015). Standing on the shoulders of giants: Challenges and recommendations of literature search in information systems research. Communications of the Association for Information Systems, 37(9), 205–224. https://doi.org/10.17705/1CAIS.03709

Brunnermeier, M. K., & Sanfilippo, A. (2018). FinTech and financial stability. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 32(3), 115–142.

Brynjolfsson, E., & Peppas, N. (2016). The rise of the sharing economy: Assessing the future impact of this transformation. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 30(3), 169–192.

Cecchetti, S. G. (2017). FinTech and the future of finance: A new operating system for the financial sector? Journal of Economic Perspectives, 31(3), 107–128.

Chen, Y., & Yang, Z. (2020). The impact of financial technology on financial inclusion and economic growth: A theoretical analysis and empirical evidence from China. Journal of International Business and Economics, 23(1), 1–23.

Chen, Z., & Wu, B. (2023). The role of Fintech in bridging the financial divide: A literature review. International Review of Applied Economics, 37(1), 1–21.

Demirgüç-Kunt, A., & Klapper, L. (2018). Digital financial inclusion: Challenges and opportunities. In World Bank Research Observer, 33(1), 1–26.

Demirgüç-Kunt, A., Klapper, L., & Singer, S. (2015). Financial inclusion: Access and usage of formal and informal financial services. World Bank Publications.

Demirguc-Kunt, A., Klapper, L., Singer, D., & Van Oudheusden, S. (2022). The global Findex database 2021: Financial inclusion, digital payments, and resilience in the age of COVID-19. World Bank Publications. https://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/globalfindex

Dupas, P., Goldberg, J., Kremer, M., & Venkatesh, B. (2015). The impact of microfinance on education: Evidence from a randomized trial in Kenya. American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 7(1), 88–137.

Egan, J. R., & Bhargava, R. (2018). Financial technology: A catalyst for financial inclusion? Journal of Banking & Finance, 94, 338–351.

Financial Stability Board. (2021). FinTech and regulatory landscape: Risks and implications for financial stability. Bank for International Settlements.

G20 Insights. (2019). Financial regulation for innovative banking. https://www.g20-insights.org/policy_briefs/financial-regulation-innovative-banking/

Gomber, P., Kauffman, R. J., Parker, C., & Weber, B. W. (2022). The Fintech revolution: What it is and why it matters. MIT Press.

Jack, W., & Suri, T. (2018). The long-run poverty and gender impacts of mobile money. Science, 354(6317), 1288–1292. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aah5309

Kruse, C. S., Goswamy, R., Raval, Y., & Marawi, S. (2016). Challenges and opportunities of big data in health care: A systematic review. JMIR Medical Informatics, 4(4), Article e38. https://doi.org/10.2196/medinform.5359

Li, T., & Yang, Y. (2023). The impact of buy now, pay later on consumer spending and creditworthiness. Journal of Financial Economics, 147(1), Article 105347.

Lusardi, A., & Mitchell, O. S. (2014). The economic importance of financial literacy: Theory and evidence. Journal of Economic Literature, 52(1), 5–44. https://doi.org/10.1257/jel.52.1.5

Melzer, A. (2021). Financial education and financial well-being: A systematic review of the literature. Journal of Economic Psychology, 86, Article 102368.

Moher, D., Liberati, A., Tetzlaff, J., Altman, D.G., & Group, T.P. (2009). Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: The PRISMA statement. PLoS Medicine, 6(7), 4419–4424. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000097

Musila, J. M., & Otieno, F. O. (2018). M-Pesa and financial inclusion in Kenya: A review of empirical literature. International Journal of Economics and Finance, 10(10), Article 11.

Nilsen, S. P., & Viswanathan, S. (2023). The rise of buy now, pay later and its implications for consumer credit. The Brookings Institution.

Niu, L., & Zhang, X. (2020). The impact of Alipay on financial inclusion in China: A difference-in-differences approach. Journal of Financial Economics, 136(3), 807–824.

Owolabi, S. A., & Awosika, A. O. (2021). The impact of Branch mobile banking on financial inclusion in Nigeria. Journal of African Business, 22(1), 22–40.

Robo-Advisor: The Next Big Thing in Bundle Checking? (2017). Oliver Wyman. https://www.oliverwyman.com/content/dam/oliver-wyman/v2/publications/2017/apr/Oliver_Wyman_Robo_Advisor_Idea_in_Brief.pdf

Sarma, D., & Pais, J. (2018). FinTech and financial inclusion: Evidence from emerging economies. Journal of Financial Inclusion, 10(3), 143–152.

Stiglitz, J. E. (2013). The price of inequality: How today's rigged economy is hurting the poor and the middle class. W. W. Norton & Company.

World Bank. (2022). Fintech and financial inclusion: How technology is helping to level the playing field. World Bank Publications.

Downloads

Published

27.11.2023

How to Cite

Miah, M. (2023). The Role of Fintech in Bridging the Divide for Economic Empowerment. Economics and Business, 37(1), 206-219. https://doi.org/10.2478/eb-2023-0013