Digital Financial Inclusion Promotes Economic Environment-Inclusive Growth in Underdeveloped Regions: Evidence from Gansu, China

The academic community has recognized that digital financial inclusion is an effective way to achieve economic environment-inclusive growth. However, a few scholars have explored the impact mechanisms of digital financial inclusion on economic environment-inclusive growth using microdata in regions with relative poverty. In this context, this study explored the mechanisms through a survey of 413 residents in Gansu Province, China, and studied them based on six variables: technological innovation, financial development, agriculture, water pollution remediation, health, and education. Data analysis indicates that, apart from agriculture, digital financial inclusion actively promotes economic environment-inclusive growth in Gansu through different pathways across the other five variables. Moreover, digital financial inclusion has a more significant impact on technological innovation, education, and health compared to financial development and water pollution remediation. This study first introduces the relatively underdeveloped economic conditions of Gansu, and provides a theoretical and practical review and analysis of digital financial inclusion and economic environment-inclusive growth in the context of digital technology development. Based on the theoretical foundations and the prominent issues in Gansu research variables and hypotheses are proposed. Through data collection and analysis, the study derives analytical results, offering an in-depth discussion of the findings and pathway relationships. Finally, this study summarizes and presents prospects for future research.