Research on the spatio-temporal dynamic evolution and driving forces of digital inclusive finance in developing countries: A case study of China

Digital financial inclusion, as an innovative financial service model, is emerging as a pivotal force driving high-quality global economic development. However, significant disparities persist in DFI development across countries. Using provincial data from 31 Chinese regions (2011–2022), this study employs the Gini coefficient, spatial Markov chain, and geodetector methods to analyze the spatio-temporal evolution of DFI and its driving forces in China. Key findings reveal: China's DFI exhibits an east-high-west-low spatial agglomeration pattern, with regional disparities gradually narrowing; Spatial transitions follow a “low-to-high stabilization” trend, demonstrating significant spatial autocorrelation; Economic development, innovation capacity, and digital technology are critical drivers of DFI, while the interaction between economic development and government intervention exerts a consistently significant influence.