Developing a model for sustainable financial inclusion through systematic review: a PRISMA approach

Financial inclusion is needed for the sustainable growth of any country. It contributes to one of the important SDGs, i.e., reduced inequality (SDG 10). However, there is a lack of clarity on understanding the concept and a universally accepted definition of financial inclusion is lacking. The researchers have no unanimity regarding whether it is a 'state' or a 'process.' This study adopted the PRISMA method for systematic review and relies on the Scopus database for collecting papers. It has covered the papers for 17 years, i.e., 2007-2025 (15 May). After the exclusion criteria of journal articles and reviews, articles in English and filters of subject areas, a total of 4245 articles were obtained. Further, after removing the duplicate and irrelevant articles, 3410 papers were taken for the study. The study concluded that financial inclusion is a continuous process, and consistent effort is needed to achieve it. The paper takes a holistic approach to examining enablers and drag factors, including financial capability and financial well-being, in achieving financial inclusion. This paper draws important lessons for the field's policy makers and practitioners. It also contributes to the theory as it holistically defines financial inclusion and proposes a model for achieving it.