DIGITAL FINANCIAL INCLUSION AND THE REDUCTION OF INEQUALITIES

Authors

  • Călina Ana Buțiu “1 Decembre 1918” University of Alba Iulia, Romania

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29302/Pangeea25.18

Keywords:

digital alphabetization, digital financial inclusion, gender and age differences, regional differences

Abstract

To offer financial access to a disadvantaged segment of society, alongside the digitalization of financial services arises the concept of digital financial inclusion. The reduction in digital inequalities is especially desired in those countries where the differences between those who have access to information technology and those who do not, are large. Women and the elderly in general are affected most in terms of digital competencies and these inequalities are particularly prevalent in the isolated communities of rural China, Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean. A good understanding of the factors that lead to financial digital exclusion is the basis for a proper socio-economic policy making.

References

1. Al-Afeef, M.A., Alsmadi, A.A. Digital empowerment: unraveling the impact of digital literacy on financial mastery. Discov Sustain 6, 311 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-01137-5

2. Banerjee, R., Trappel, J., Audenhove V.L. Evaluating ‘Meaningful Connectivity’: Digital Literacy and Women in West Bengal, India in Digital Inclusion: International Policy and Research (2024) Simeon Yates and Elinor Carmi (Eds), pp. 225-248. DOI:10.1007/978-3-031-28930-9_11

3. Becha, H., Kalai, M., Houidi, S. et al. Digital financial inclusion, environmental sustainability and regional economic growth in China: insights from a panel threshold model. Economic Structures 14, 4 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40008-025-00347-4

4. Bu, H., Xie, Q.Y. Linking to the development of economic growth with digital financial inclusion and supply chain management in China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 31, pp. 24619–24633 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-024-32216-1

5. Califano B., Becerra, M., Policy Interventions to Address Digital Inequalities in Latin America in the Face of the Pandemic, in Digital Inclusion: International Policy and Research (2024) Simeon Yates and Elinor Carmi (Eds), pp. 39-62 (2024).

6. da Cunha Duarte, P. Digital financial inclusion and women: a case study of Pix, the Brazilian instant payment system. Eurasian Econ Rev 15, pp. 379–400 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40822-024-00300-z

7. Damiani, F., Rodríguez-Modroño, P. Measuring the digital inclusion of women: a poset-based approach to the women in digital scoreboard. Qual Quant 58, pp. 705–722 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-023-01666-z

8. De Koker, L., Jentzsch, N. Financial inclusion and financial integrity: aligned incentives? World Dev., 44, pp. 267-280. (2013). DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2012.11.002

9. Dinh, L.Q. The optimal inflation threshold in digital financial inclusion: a key to sustainable development. SN Bus Econ, pp. 5- 40 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43546-025-00810-1

10. Enriquez, R., Han, D., Harris, R. et al. Exploring digital access and digital engagement of senior small business owners. Qual Quant (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-025-02157-z

11. European Commission (2021). 2030 Digital Compass: the European way for the Digital Decade. https://cutt.ly/FeNVI0Wi

12. Fan, C., Mao, Q., Sun, J. Does digital financial inclusion promote elderly consumption? An empirical test based on Chinese survey data. Electron Commer Res (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10660-024-09940-4

13. Fang, C., Chen, Z., Liao, X. et al. Urban-rural digitalization evolves from divide to inclusion: empirical evidence from China. npj Urban Sustain 4, 51 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42949-024-00187-4

14. Faton, C. Y, Nonvide, G., Chabossou, A. (2025). Digital financial inclusion and the reduction of gender inequalities in Africa. Discover Global Society. pp.3-25. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44282-025-00146-z

15. Faton, C.Y., Chabossou, A.F. Effect of digital financial inclusion on household consumption in ECOWAS countries. SN Soc Sci 4, 231 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43545-024-01014-4.

16. Fisher, O.J., Fearnshaw, D., Watson, N.J. et al. Promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in research and funding: reflections from a digital manufacturing research network. Res Integr Peer Rev 9, 5 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41073-024-00144-w

17. Herrman H, Stewart DE, Diaz-Granados N, Berger EL, Jackson B, Yuen T. What is resilience? Can J Psychiatry. 2011 May; 56(5):258-65. DOI: 10.1177/070674371105600504. PMID: 21586191.

18. Hu, L., Sheng, D., Ni, G. et al. Digital Financial Inclusion and Poverty-Alleviation Resilience of Chinese Rural Households. J Fam Econ Iss (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-024-09992-6

19. Inoue, T. Digital financial inclusion, international remittances, and poverty reduction. Economic Structures 13, 8 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40008-024-00328-z

20. Jia, X, Kanagaretnam, K., Digital Inclusion and Financial Inclusion: Evidence from Peer-to-Peer Lending, Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 196(2), pp. 345-380 (2025).https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-024-05689-w

21. Kaarakainen, M.T., Saikkonen, L. Remark on digital accessibility: educational disparities define digital inclusion from adolescence onwards. Univ Access Inf Soc 22, pp.1279-1292 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-022-00908-5

22. Kamble, P.A., Mehta, A., Rani, N. Financial Inclusion and Digital Financial Literacy: Do they Matter for Financial Well-being?. Soc Indic Res 171, pp. 777–807 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-023-03264-w

23. Kim, Y., Jang, CY. Evaluating Digital Inclusion: A Framework for Indexing Inclusive Progress. Public Organiz Rev (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11115-025-00857-6

24. Kouladoum, J.C; Muhamadu Wirajing, M.A.K, Nchofoung, T.N., Digital technologies, Financial inclusion, Sub Saharan Africa, Volume 46, Issue 9, October 2022, 102387. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.telpol.2022.102387

25. Kumari, D., Giri, A.K., Saruparia, C. Role of gender-based digital financial inclusion and women empowerment in poverty reduction: evidence from Asian countries. Discov Sustain 6, 283 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-01095-y

26. Liu, F., Yang, S., Zhou, Y. et al. Does Digital Financial Inclusion Have an Impact on High-Quality Development of Trade? Evidence from China. J Knowl Econ 16, pp. 788-816 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-024-02015-7

27. Mamun, A.Y., László, V. Advancing sustainability through financial inclusion and sustainable finance: a systematic literature review. Digit Finance (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42521-025-00142-7

28. Morte-Nadal, T., Esteban-Navarro, M.Á. Recommendations for digital inclusion in the use of European digital public services. Humanit Soc Sci Commun 12, 273 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04576-7

29. Mwansa, G., Ngandu, M.R., Mkwambi, Z. Bridging the digital divide: exploring the challenges and solutions for digital exclusion in rural South Africa. Discov glob soc 3, 54 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44282-025-00189-2

30. Naveenan, R.V., Liew, C.Y., Kijkasiwat, P. Nexus Between Financial Inclusion, Digital Inclusion and Health Outcomes: Evidence from Developing Economies. Soc Indic Res 174, pp. 367-408 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-024-03391-y

31. Özşuca, E.A. Gender gap in digital financial inclusion across generations. Empirica 52, 197-210 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10663-024-09641-z

32. Shashwat, S., Chhabra, M., Giri, A.K. Environmental Externalities of Digital Financial Inclusion: a Green Growth perspective. Discov Sustain 6, 81 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-00862-1

33. Tomczyk, Ł., Kielar, I. Neutralising External and Internal Barriers in the Digital Inclusion Process for Seniors - Finding Ways to Effectively Shape Digital and Media Competences among Older People. Tech Know Learn (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10758-024-09813-7

34. Van Dijk, J. (2017). Digital Divide: Impact of Access. In The International Encyclopedia of Media Effects, pp. 1-11. Wiley Online. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9781118783764

35. Van, H.N., Le Quoc, D. Assessing the Impact of Digital Financial Inclusion on Sustainable Development Goals: Analyzing Differences by Financial Development Levels Across Countries. J Knowl Econ (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-024-02515-6

36. Williams, B.A., Nagriwum, T.M. Fostering Digital Inclusion: Understanding Generation Z’s Reluctance to Support Older Adults in Liberia’s Digital Public Services. Public Organiz Rev (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11115-025-00861-w

37. Wu, M., Zhang, Q., He, Y. Inclusion or Exclusion: The Impact of Digital Finance on Intra-City Economic Inequality and Its Spatial Spillover Effect. J Knowl Econ (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-025-02668-y

Downloads

Published

2026-01-08

Issue

Section

Articole

Categories

How to Cite

DIGITAL FINANCIAL INCLUSION AND THE REDUCTION OF INEQUALITIES. (2026). PANGEEA, 25(2), 53-60. https://doi.org/10.29302/Pangeea25.18