Digital inclusive finance and relative poverty at county level in Shaanxi province: measurement, evolution and risk of returning to poverty

This study examines digital financial inclusion's impact on relative poverty in Shaanxi Province using county-level data from 2014 to 2021. Results show it significantly reduces poverty through coverage and usage depth, with stronger effects in district and county-level regions than cities. Spatially, poverty decreased overall but persists in remote mountainous areas due to natural and infrastructural constraints. Ankang and other Qinba mountain areas face multidimensional risks, including inadequate healthcare, education, and agricultural inefficiencies. Recommendations include regional differentiation strategies, investments in healthcare and education, industrial and agricultural modernization, and dynamic poverty monitoring to achieve sustainable poverty reduction through multidimensional policy coordination.