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Unlocking the Potential of Fintechs for Financial Inclusion: A Delphi-Based Approach

Author

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  • Luiz Antonio Joia

    (Brazilian School of Public and Business Administration, Getulio Vargas Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 22231-010, Brazil)

  • Joaquim Pedro Vasconcelos Cordeiro

    (Brazilian Economic and Social Development Bank (BNDES), Rio de Janeiro 20031-917, Brazil)

Abstract

The financial sector is experiencing an accelerated process of transformation shaped by fintechs, which opens an important window of opportunity to increase financial inclusion in emerging markets, such as Brazil, with high financial exclusion. Thus, this article investigates, through a Delphi approach involving fintech professionals, the potential of fintechs to enable financial inclusion in emerging markets, using Brazil as a proxy. The analysis carried out identified three domains related to fintechs that have the potential to impact financial inclusion: (i) fintechs can serve niches of people without a bank account in the traditional financial market, (ii) fintechs can reduce costs for clients through increased competition, and (iii) fintechs can offer financial services in remote locations, far from traditional financial institutions. Thus, with the objective of developing a public agenda of financial inclusion through fintechs, the article proposes four lines of public policies: (i) expansion and modernization of mobile and internet infrastructure, (ii) improvement of the population’s financial and digital education, (iii) implementation of a trustworthy environment for the fintech clients, and (iv) development and enforcement of an effective legal and regulatory framework for fintechs. These policies, if implemented, can benefit people excluded from the financial system around the world.

Suggested Citation

  • Luiz Antonio Joia & Joaquim Pedro Vasconcelos Cordeiro, 2021. "Unlocking the Potential of Fintechs for Financial Inclusion: A Delphi-Based Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-19, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:21:p:11675-:d:662217
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    2. Ying Chu & Shujun Ye & Hongchang Li & Jack Strauss & Chen Zhao, 2023. "Can Digitalization Foster Sustainable Financial Inclusion? Opportunities for Both Banks and Vulnerable Groups," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-21, April.
    3. Han, Zhanbing & Heng, Yixin, 2024. "Do fintech and trade diversification discard the natural resource dependency in MENA countries?," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    4. Minghua Chen & Qinru Chu & Tengwen Zhang & Qian Li & Jianxu Liu & Woraphon Yamaka, 2023. "The Structural Causes and Trend Evolution of Imbalance and Insufficiency of Development of Digital Inclusive Finance in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-22, June.
    5. Zhang, Yanhua & Cui, Xiaoyan, 2024. "Fintech, business regulations, and urbanization: Shaping the landscape of natural resource rent in G10 countries," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    6. Kangyu Ren & Yuan Wang & Lulu Liu, 2023. "Impact of Traditional and Digital Financial Inclusion on Enterprise Innovation: Evidence from China," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(1), pages 21582440221, January.
    7. Sagir Danladi & M. S. V. Prasad & Umar Muhammad Modibbo & Seyedeh Asra Ahmadi & Peiman Ghasemi, 2023. "Attaining Sustainable Development Goals through Financial Inclusion: Exploring Collaborative Approaches to Fintech Adoption in Developing Economies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-14, August.
    8. Murshed, Muntasir & Ahmed, Rizwan & Al-Tal, Raad Mahmoud & Kumpamool, Chamaiporn & Vetchagool, Witchulada & Avarado, Rafael, 2023. "Determinants of financial inclusion in South Asia: The moderating and mediating roles of internal conflict settlement," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    9. Drago, Carlo & Minnetti, Francesco & Di Nallo, Loris & Manzari, Alberto, 2025. "Uncovering patterns of fintech behavior in Italian banks: A multidimensional statistical analysis," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 73(PA).
    10. Hasan, Morshadul & Hoque, Ariful & Abedin, Mohammad Zoynul & Gasbarro, Dominic, 2024. "FinTech and sustainable development: A systematic thematic analysis using human- and machine-generated processing," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 95(PC).
    11. Yiyin Zheng & Junlin He, 2026. "Deviation Factors Affecting Rural Residents’ Behavior and Intention to Accept Digital Financial Services: A Study in Jiangsu Province, China," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 17(1), pages 903-926, February.
    12. Emerson Wagner Mainardes & Priscilla Maria Ferreira Costa & Silvania Neris Nossa, 2023. "Customers’ satisfaction with fintech services: evidence from Brazil," Journal of Financial Services Marketing, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 28(2), pages 378-395, June.

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