DIGITAL FINANCIAL INCLUSION AS A DRIVER OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: EVIDENCE FROM GLOBAL TRENDS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR EMERGING ECONOMIES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20138309Keywords:
digital financial inclusion, fintech, sustainable development, emerging economies, Global Findex, digital payments, SDGs.Abstract
This article examines how digital financial inclusion contributes to sustainable development in
emerging economies. The study focuses on the relationship between account ownership, digital payments,
gender inclusion, and broader development outcomes linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Drawing on secondary data from the World Bank Global Findex, the IMF Financial Access Survey, IMF analytical
work on fintech, and UNCTAD reports on inclusive digitalization, the article analyzes recent global trends
and identifies key policy implications. The results show that account ownership and digital payments have
expanded substantially over the past decade, particularly in developing economies. Nevertheless, persistent
gaps in usage intensity, gender equality, digital infrastructure, and institutional quality constrain the broader
development impact of fintech. The article concludes that digital financial inclusion must be embedded within a
comprehensive enabling environment to advance SDG-linked outcomes effectively.
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