IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/wly/ijfiec/v30y2025i2p1032-1048.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Mediating effect of financial inclusion on FinTech innovations and economic development in West Africa: Evidence from the Benin Republic

Author

Listed:
  • Guillaume Edou Tchidi
  • Wei Zhang

Abstract

Studies from previous literature has exhausted the direct relationship between FinTech innovations and economic development with mixed findings. Thus, the current study investigates the mediating effect of financial inclusion on FinTech innovations and economic development in the Benin Republic. The study is survey research that used a questionnaire from bank customers and residents of suburb areas with a sample size of 357 respondents. The study employed a regression‐based data analysis technique using SPSS and SEM‐PLS 3 software. The results indicate a positive and significant relationship between FinTech and economic development. In addition, there is a positive and significant association between financial inclusion and economic development. The study also reports a positive and significant mediating role of financial inclusion in the relationship between financial technology and economic development. Consequently, the research confirms that financial inclusion serves as a crucial mechanism through which financial technology influences economic development. In light of these findings, it is recommended that efforts to enhance financial inclusion in the Benin Republic should specifically focus on fostering FinTech innovations to support sustainable economic development.

Suggested Citation

  • Guillaume Edou Tchidi & Wei Zhang, 2025. "Mediating effect of financial inclusion on FinTech innovations and economic development in West Africa: Evidence from the Benin Republic," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(2), pages 1032-1048, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:ijfiec:v:30:y:2025:i:2:p:1032-1048
    DOI: 10.1002/ijfe.2954
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/ijfe.2954
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/ijfe.2954?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ernest Akpaku & Zelda Arku & Stephen Boateng, 2023. "Global perspective of the effects of digital financial inclusion and ICT intensity on socio-economic development," International Journal of Business Forecasting and Marketing Intelligence, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 8(1), pages 13-34.
    2. Song, Chang-Qing & Chang, Chun-Ping & Gong, Qiang, 2021. "Economic growth, corruption, and financial development: Global evidence," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 822-830.
    3. Tough Chinoda & Joseph Olorunfemi Akande, 2019. "Financial Inclusion, Mobile Phone Diffusion, and Economic Growth; Evidence from Africa," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 9(5), pages 104-110.
    4. Angela C. Lyons & Josephine Kass-Hanna, 2021. "Financial Inclusion, Financial Literacy and Economically Vulnerable Populations in the Middle East and North Africa," Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 57(9), pages 2699-2738, July.
    5. Beck, Thorsten & Chen, Tao & Lin, Chen & Song, Frank M., 2016. "Financial innovation: The bright and the dark sides," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 28-51.
    6. Calebe de Roure & Loriana Pelizzon & Anjan Thakor, 2022. "P2P Lenders versus Banks: Cream Skimming or Bottom Fishing? [Loan officer incentives, internal rating models and default rates]," The Review of Corporate Finance Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 11(2), pages 213-262.
    7. Aaron Mehrotra & James Yetman, 2015. "Financial inclusion - issues for central banks," BIS Quarterly Review, Bank for International Settlements, March.
    8. Diego Comin & Bart Hobijn, 2010. "An Exploration of Technology Diffusion," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 100(5), pages 2031-2059, December.
    9. Désiré Kanga & Christine Oughton & Laurence Harris & Victor Murinde, 2022. "The diffusion of fintech, financial inclusion and income per capita," The European Journal of Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(1), pages 108-136, January.
    10. Ximena Cadena & Antoinette Schoar, 2011. "Remembering to Pay? Reminders vs. Financial Incentives for Loan Payments," NBER Working Papers 17020, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    11. Rainer Alt, 2018. "Electronic Markets on digitalization," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 28(4), pages 397-402, November.
    12. Evans, Olaniyi, 2015. "The Effects of Economic and Financial Development on Financial Inclusion in Africa," MPRA Paper 81325, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    13. Neaime, Simon & Gaysset, Isabelle, 2018. "Financial inclusion and stability in MENA: Evidence from poverty and inequality," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 230-237.
    14. Rainer Alt, 2018. "Electronic Markets and current general research," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 28(2), pages 123-128, May.
    15. Gladys A. A. Nabieu & Amoah T. Kwabena & James D. Ntiamoah, 2023. "Financial Inclusion, Investments and Economic Growth: Does Investment Mediate Financial Inclusion for Economic Growth in Africa?," The African Finance Journal, Africagrowth Institute, vol. 25(1), pages 63-84.
    16. Janice Tieguhong Puatwoe & Serge Mandiefe Piabuo, 2017. "Financial sector development and economic growth: evidence from Cameroon," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 3(1), pages 1-18, December.
    17. Gift Kimonge Dzombo & James Kilika & James Maingi, 2018. "The Mediating Effect of Financial Inclusion on the Relationship between Branchless Banking Strategy and Performance of Commercial Banks in an Emerging market Context: The Case of Kenya," International Journal of Economics and Finance, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 10(7), pages 161-161, July.
    18. Julapa Jagtiani & Catharine Lemieux, 2019. "The roles of alternative data and machine learning in fintech lending: Evidence from the LendingClub consumer platform," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 48(4), pages 1009-1029, December.
    19. Noelia Cámara & David Tuesta, 2018. "Measuring financial inclusion: a multidimensional index," IFC Bulletins chapters, in: Bank for International Settlements (ed.), The role of data in supporting financial inclusion policy, volume 47, Bank for International Settlements.
    20. Lee, In & Shin, Yong Jae, 2018. "Fintech: Ecosystem, business models, investment decisions, and challenges," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 61(1), pages 35-46.
    21. Ghosh, Saibal & Vinod, D., 2017. "What Constrains Financial Inclusion for Women? Evidence from Indian Micro data," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 60-81.
    22. Aparna Gosavi, 2018. "Can Mobile Money Help Firms Mitigate the Problem of Access to Finance in Eastern sub-Saharan Africa?," Journal of African Business, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(3), pages 343-360, July.
    23. Peterson K. Ozili, 2018. "Impact of digital finance on financial inclusion and stability," Borsa Istanbul Review, Research and Business Development Department, Borsa Istanbul, vol. 18(4), pages 329-340, December.
    24. Suman Dahiya & Manoj Kumar, 2020. "Linkage between Financial Inclusion and Economic Growth: An Empirical Study of the Emerging Indian Economy," Vision, , vol. 24(2), pages 184-193, June.
    25. Anupam Das & Murshed Chowdhury & Sariah Seaborn, 2018. "ICT Diffusion, Financial Development and Economic Growth: New Evidence from Low and Lower Middle-Income Countries," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 9(3), pages 928-947, September.
    26. Ayse Demir & Vanesa Pesqué-Cela & Yener Altunbas & Victor Murinde, 2022. "Fintech, financial inclusion and income inequality: a quantile regression approach," The European Journal of Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(1), pages 86-107, January.
    27. Ghosh, Saibal, 2016. "Does mobile telephony spur growth? Evidence from Indian states," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 40(10), pages 1020-1031.
    28. John W. Schindler, 2017. "FinTech and Financial Innovation : Drivers and Depth," Finance and Economics Discussion Series 2017-081, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.).
    29. Alex J. Alexander & Lin Shi & Bensam Solomon, 2017. "How Fintech is Reaching the Poor in Africa and Asia," World Bank Publications - Reports 30360, The World Bank Group.
    30. Mac Junior Abeka & Eric Andoh & John Gartchie Gatsi & Seyram Kawor & David McMillan, 2021. "Financial development and economic growth nexus in SSA economies: The moderating role of telecommunication development," Cogent Economics & Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 9(1), pages 1862395-186, January.
    31. Beck, Thorsten & Levine, Ross & Loayza, Norman, 2000. "Finance and the sources of growth," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 58(1-2), pages 261-300.
    32. Jon Frost, 2020. "The economic forces driving FinTech adoption across countries," Working Papers 663, DNB.
    33. Mihasonirina Andrianaivo & Kangni Kpodar, 2012. "Mobile Phones, Financial Inclusion, and Growth," Review of Economics and Institutions, Università di Perugia, vol. 3(2).
    34. Baptiste Venet, 2019. "Fintech and Financial Inclusion," Post-Print hal-02294648, HAL.
    35. Lyons, Angela C. & Grable, John E. & Zeng, Ting, 2019. "Impacts of Financial Literacy on the Loan Decisions of Financially Excluded Households in the People's Republic of China," ADBI Working Papers 923, Asian Development Bank Institute.
    36. Meldina Kokorovic Jukan & Amra Softic, 2016. "Comparative Analysis Of Financial Inclusion In Developing Regions Around The World," Economic Review: Journal of Economics and Business, University of Tuzla, Faculty of Economics, vol. 14(2), pages 56-65, November.
    37. Diego A. Comin & Martí Mestieri, 2010. "An Intensive Exploration of Technology Diffusion," NBER Working Papers 16379, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    38. Ozili, Peterson Kitakogelu, 2018. "Impact of Digital Finance on Financial Inclusion and Stability," MPRA Paper 84771, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    39. Thorsten Beck & Asli Demirgüç-Kunt & Ross Levine, 2007. "Finance, inequality and the poor," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 12(1), pages 27-49, March.
    40. David Mhlanga, 2021. "Financial Inclusion in Emerging Economies: The Application of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence in Credit Risk Assessment," IJFS, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-16, July.
    41. Rainer Alt & Hans-Dieter Zimmermann, 2018. "Electronic Markets on networked media," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 28(1), pages 1-6, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. 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).
    2. Foguesatto, Cristian Rogério & Righi, Marcelo Brutti & Müller, Fernanda Maria, 2024. "Is there a dark side to financial inclusion? Understanding the relationship between financial inclusion and market risk," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    3. Claude Bernard Lontchi & Baochen Yang & Yunpeng Su, 2022. "The Mediating Effect of Financial Literacy and the Moderating Role of Social Capital in the Relationship between Financial Inclusion and Sustainable Development in Cameroon," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-24, November.
    4. Shreya Pal & Indranil Bandyopadhyay, 2022. "Impact of financial inclusion on economic growth, financial development, financial efficiency, financial stability, and profitability: an international evidence," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 2(9), pages 1-29, September.
    5. Gallego-Losada, María-Jesús & Montero-Navarro, Antonio & García-Abajo, Elisa & Gallego-Losada, Rocío, 2023. "Digital financial inclusion. Visualizing the academic literature," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    6. Damane, Moeti & Ho, Sin-Yu, 2024. "Effects of financial inclusion on financial stability: evidence from ssa countries," MPRA Paper 120238, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Liu, Dan & Jin, Yanhong & Pray, Carl & Liu, Shuang, 2020. "The Effects of Digital Inclusive Finance on Household Income and Income Inequality in China?," 2020 Annual Meeting, July 26-28, Kansas City, Missouri 304238, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    8. Takeshi Inoue, 2024. "Digital financial inclusion, international remittances, and poverty reduction," Journal of Economic Structures, Springer;Pan-Pacific Association of Input-Output Studies (PAPAIOS), vol. 13(1), pages 1-20, December.
    9. Shah, Shahid Manzoor & Ali, Amjad, 2022. "A Survey on Financial Inclusion: Theoretical and Empirical Literature Review," MPRA Paper 116327, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    10. US Thathsarani & Jianguo Wei & GRSRC Samaraweera, 2021. "Financial Inclusion’s Role in Economic Growth and Human Capital in South Asia: An Econometric Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-18, April.
    11. Adugna, Hailu, 2024. "Fintech dividend: How would digital financial services impact income inequality across countries?," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    12. Comlanvi Martin Konou, 2023. "Entrepreneurial Risk and Digital Financial Inclusion: A Cross‐Country Analysis," Economic Papers, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 42(3), pages 267-281, September.
    13. Damane, Moeti & Ho, Sin-Yu, 2024. "The impact of financial inclusion on financial stability: review of theories and international evidence," MPRA Paper 120369, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    14. Ahmad Hassan Ahmad & Christopher Green & Fei Jiang, 2020. "Mobile Money, Financial Inclusion And Development: A Review With Reference To African Experience," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(4), pages 753-792, September.
    15. Pradhan, Rudra P. & Arvin, Mak B. & Nair, Mahendhiran S. & Hall, John H. & Bennett, Sara E., 2021. "Sustainable economic development in India: The dynamics between financial inclusion, ICT development, and economic growth," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    16. Francisco Jesús Gálvez-Sánchez & Juan Lara-Rubio & Antonio José Verdú-Jóver & Víctor Meseguer-Sánchez, 2021. "Research Advances on Financial Inclusion: A Bibliometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-19, March.
    17. Avani Raval & Rajesh Desai, 2024. "Reviews and directions of FinTech research: bibliometric–content analysis approach," Journal of Financial Services Marketing, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 29(3), pages 1115-1134, September.
    18. Guillermo Boitano & Deybi Franco Abanto, 2020. "Challenges of financial inclusion policies in Peru," Revista Finanzas y Politica Economica, Universidad Católica de Colombia, vol. 12(1), pages 89-117, June.
    19. Emara, Noha & El Said, Ayah & Pearlman, Joseph, 2019. "On the Impact of Financial Inclusion on Financial Stability and Inequality: The Role of Macroprudential Policies," MPRA Paper 99258, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    20. Inoue, Takeshi, 2024. "Financial inclusion and income distribution revisited: New findings," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:wly:ijfiec:v:30:y:2025:i:2:p:1032-1048. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.interscience.wiley.com/jpages/1076-9307/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.