Digital financial inclusion, environmental quality, and economic development - Digital financial inclusion and ICT in OECD countries - Research report and policy implications

Oct 23, 2026

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Economic development depends on financial innovation and technological progress. This study examines how digital financial inclusion and information and communication technology (ICT) affect economic growth in 38 OECD countries from 2004 to 2020, emphasizing contributions from financial development and non-financial investments. Advanced econometric panel unit-root and cointegration methods support an exhaustive empirical assessment. Results show positive associations among digital financial inclusion, ICT, population growth, and non-financial investment, and recommend OECD policymakers expand cost-effective digital access for excluded groups while strengthening ICT for SDG implementation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

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Pages12

Reading Time30 min

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Abstract

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Introduction

Environmental Science and Pollution Research (2023) 30:116336–116347 [https://doi.org/10.1007/s1](https://doi.org/10.1007/s1) 1356-023-30275-4 Digital financial inclusion, environmental quality, and economic development: the contributions of financial development and investments in OECD countries Ali Hashemizadeh1 · Rana Umair Ashraf2 · Irfan Khan3 · Syed Anees Haider Zaidi2,4 Received: 22 May 2023 / Accepted: 1 October 2023 / Published online: 1 November 2023 © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2023 Abstract Economic development has long acknowledged the significance of financial innovation and technological advancement. Communication technology increases the availability of information, generates new modes of communication, restructures production processes, and enhances the efficacy of a wide range of economic operations. This study investigates the effects of digital financial inclusion and information and communication technology (ICT) on economic growth in 38 OECD nations between 2004 and 2020, with a focus on the contributions of financial development and investments in non-financial assets. To this end, advanced econometric methodologies are employed to conduct an exhaustive empirical analysis utilizing second-generation panel unit root and cointegration techniques. The results demonstrate a positive correlation between digital financial inclusion, information and communication technology, population growth, and non-financial investments in OECD nations. It is recommended that OECD policymakers promote digital financial inclusion by utilizing cost-effective digital technologies to reach currently financially excluded and underserved populations. This can be achieved through a variety of formal financial services that are tailored to their needs and responsibly delivered at a cost that is affordable to customers and sustainable for providers. Moreover, policymakers are recommended to promote information and communication technologies that strengthen the means for implementing Sustainable Development Goals through international cooperation and coordination, technology transfer, capacity building, strengthening multi-stakeholder partnerships, and data monitoring and accountability. Finally, a detailed conclusion is provided to discuss the research limitations and future directions. Keywords Digital financial inclusion · Information and communication technology · Financial development · Population growth · OECD countries Responsible Editor: Eyup Dogan * Irfan Khan [Khan.Irfan4030@yahoo.com](Khan.Irfan4030@yahoo.com); [Irfan.Khan@bit.edu.cn](Irfan.Khan@bit.edu.cn) Ali Hashemizadeh [ahz@szu.edu.cn](ahz@szu.edu.cn) Rana Umair Ashraf [u.rana@uw.edu.pl](u.rana@uw.edu.pl) Syed Anees Haider Zaidi [aneeshaider5@hotmail.com](aneeshaider5@hotmail.com) 1 College of Management, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518060, People’s Republic of China 2 Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Warsaw, ul. Dluga 44/50, 00-241 Warsaw, Poland 3 School of Management and Economics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China 4 COMSATS University Islamabad-Sahiwal Campus, Sahiwal, Pakistan Introduction Financial inclusion (FI), targeting the poorest people, ensures that everyone can have equal access to basic financial services that are otherwise unavailable. In view of this, FI has been respected as a core tenet in development policies across the world. This initiative is typically driven by recognizing the critical role of a comprehensive financial structure in alleviating extreme poverty, while simultaneously creating opportunities for all (Wang et al. 2022) . In many aspects, FI has thus drawn much attention among decision-makers and scholars alike, e.g., being an impactful technique for achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs), adopted by the United Nations in 2015, advancing social equity in some countries, red

FAQs

What research question does the study address?

The study investigates how digital financial inclusion and ICT influence economic growth in OECD countries, with attention to financial development and investment in non-financial assets.

Which countries and time period are analyzed?

The analysis covers 38 OECD nations over the period 2004 to 2020.

What main empirical results are reported?

The findings indicate a positive correlation between digital financial inclusion, ICT, population growth, and non-financial investments in OECD countries.

What policy recommendations does the study make?

It recommends promoting digital financial inclusion through cost-effective technologies tailored to excluded and underserved populations, and supporting ICT adoption to strengthen Sustainable Development Goals via international cooperation, coordination, and capacity building.

Oct 23, 2026

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