The impact of digital literacy and technology adoption on financial inclusion in Africa, Asia, and Latin America

Emerging countries face specific challenges in mobilizing the transformative potential of digital technology to achieve financial inclusion. While previous studies emphasize the role of digital infrastructure and technology adoption in financial inclusion, gaps remain in understanding how digital li...

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Main Author: Nabil Adel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:Heliyon
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024169824
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author Nabil Adel
author_facet Nabil Adel
author_sort Nabil Adel
collection DOAJ
description Emerging countries face specific challenges in mobilizing the transformative potential of digital technology to achieve financial inclusion. While previous studies emphasize the role of digital infrastructure and technology adoption in financial inclusion, gaps remain in understanding how digital literacy and specific technologies, like blockchain, influence financial inclusion across diverse emerging regions. This study investigates the joint effect of digital literacy and blockchain adoption on financial inclusion in Africa, Asia, and Latin America from 2011 to 2021. Using a two-step system General Methods of Moments (GMM) model, we analyze data from 56 emerging countries to provide robust evidence on the impact of digital literacy and technology adoption on financial inclusion. Findings reveal that digital literacy enhances financial inclusion in Africa but unexpectedly hinders it in Asia, while new technology adoption consistently promotes inclusion in Asia and Latin America. Furthermore, internet penetration significantly boosts inclusion in Latin America, though it appears to reduce it in Asian contexts. Our results underscore the importance of region-specific digital strategies and highlight the need for targeted policy interventions to address regional disparities in financial inclusion.
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spelling doaj-art-5ee0ef3670004cb88ae85cc209b946c72025-08-20T02:52:09ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402024-12-011024e4095110.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e40951The impact of digital literacy and technology adoption on financial inclusion in Africa, Asia, and Latin AmericaNabil Adel0ESCA – School of Management, Casablanca, MoroccoEmerging countries face specific challenges in mobilizing the transformative potential of digital technology to achieve financial inclusion. While previous studies emphasize the role of digital infrastructure and technology adoption in financial inclusion, gaps remain in understanding how digital literacy and specific technologies, like blockchain, influence financial inclusion across diverse emerging regions. This study investigates the joint effect of digital literacy and blockchain adoption on financial inclusion in Africa, Asia, and Latin America from 2011 to 2021. Using a two-step system General Methods of Moments (GMM) model, we analyze data from 56 emerging countries to provide robust evidence on the impact of digital literacy and technology adoption on financial inclusion. Findings reveal that digital literacy enhances financial inclusion in Africa but unexpectedly hinders it in Asia, while new technology adoption consistently promotes inclusion in Asia and Latin America. Furthermore, internet penetration significantly boosts inclusion in Latin America, though it appears to reduce it in Asian contexts. Our results underscore the importance of region-specific digital strategies and highlight the need for targeted policy interventions to address regional disparities in financial inclusion.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024169824Financial inclusionArtificial intelligenceBlockchainDigital literacyEmerging countries
spellingShingle Nabil Adel
The impact of digital literacy and technology adoption on financial inclusion in Africa, Asia, and Latin America
Heliyon
Financial inclusion
Artificial intelligence
Blockchain
Digital literacy
Emerging countries
title The impact of digital literacy and technology adoption on financial inclusion in Africa, Asia, and Latin America
title_full The impact of digital literacy and technology adoption on financial inclusion in Africa, Asia, and Latin America
title_fullStr The impact of digital literacy and technology adoption on financial inclusion in Africa, Asia, and Latin America
title_full_unstemmed The impact of digital literacy and technology adoption on financial inclusion in Africa, Asia, and Latin America
title_short The impact of digital literacy and technology adoption on financial inclusion in Africa, Asia, and Latin America
title_sort impact of digital literacy and technology adoption on financial inclusion in africa asia and latin america
topic Financial inclusion
Artificial intelligence
Blockchain
Digital literacy
Emerging countries
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024169824
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