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The rise of digital finance: Financial inclusion or debt trap?

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  • Yue, Pengpeng
  • Korkmaz, Aslihan Gizem
  • Yin, Zhichao
  • Zhou, Haigang

Abstract

This study focuses on the impact of digital finance on households. While digital finance has brought financial inclusion, it has also increased the risk of households falling into a debt trap. We provide evidence that supports this notion and explain the channel through which digital finance increases the likelihood of financial distress. Our results show that the widespread use of digital finance increases credit market participation. The broadened access to credit markets increases household consumption by changing the marginal propensity to consume. However, the easier access to credit markets also increases the risk of households falling into a debt trap.

Suggested Citation

  • Yue, Pengpeng & Korkmaz, Aslihan Gizem & Yin, Zhichao & Zhou, Haigang, 2022. "The rise of digital finance: Financial inclusion or debt trap?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 47(PA).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:47:y:2022:i:pa:s1544612321005432
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2021.102604
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    6. Krzysztof Waliszewski & Ewa Cichowicz & £ukasz Gêbski & Filip Kliber & Jakub Kubiczek & Pawe³ Niedzió³ka & Ma³gorzata Solarz & Anna Warchlewska, 2023. "The role of the Lendtech sector in the consumer credit market in the context of household financial exclusion," Oeconomia Copernicana, Institute of Economic Research, vol. 14(2), pages 609-643, June.
    7. Shoufu Yang & Hanhui Zhao & Yiming Chen & Zitian Fu & Chaohao Sun & Tsangyao Chang, 2023. "The Impact of Digital Enterprise Agglomeration on Carbon Intensity: A Study Based on the Extended Spatial STIRPAT Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-33, June.
    8. Wei Yu & Huiqin Huang & Xinyan Kong & Keying Zhu, 2023. "Can Digital Inclusive Finance Improve the Financial Performance of SMEs?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-16, January.
    9. Zhou, Jun & Yin, Zhichao & Yue, Pengpeng, 2023. "The impact of access to credit on energy efficiency," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    10. Haibo Lei & Qin Su, 2023. "Does the Use of Digital Finance Affect Household Farmland Transfer-Out?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-18, August.
    11. He, Hui & Shi, Wei, 2023. "Enterprise litigation risk and enterprise performance," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 55(PA).
    12. Choung, Youngjoo & Chatterjee, Swarn & Pak, Tae-Young, 2023. "Digital Financial Literacy and Financial Well-Being," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, issue Journal P, pages 1-1.
    13. Kodongo, Odongo, 2023. "Does the fintech ecosystem promote effective financial inclusion in Kenya?," KBA Centre for Research on Financial Markets and Policy Working Paper Series 70, Kenya Bankers Association (KBA).
    14. Ye, Xiang & Yue, Pengpeng, 2023. "Financial literacy and household energy efficiency: An analysis of credit market and supply chain," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    15. Guo, Xiaohong & Tu, Yongqian, 2023. "How digital finance affects carbon intensity–The moderating role of financial supervision," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 55(PA).
    16. Jun Zhou & Zhichao Yin & Pengpeng Yue, 2022. "The impact of access to credit on energy efficiency," Papers 2211.08871, arXiv.org.
    17. Sun, Yang & Tang, Xinwei, 2022. "The impact of digital inclusive finance on sustainable economic growth in China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
    18. Wang, Jianqiu & Yin, Zhichao & Jiang, Jialing, 2023. "The effect of the digital divide on household consumption in China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Fintech; Digital lending; Financial inclusion; Digital financial literacy; Debt trap;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G51 - Financial Economics - - Household Finance - - - Household Savings, Borrowing, Debt, and Wealth
    • G53 - Financial Economics - - Household Finance - - - Financial Literacy

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