FinTech for Financial Inclusion: A Comprehensive Review, Integrative Framework, and Bibliometric Analysis

ABSTRACT Over two decades, financial inclusion and FinTech have been crucial topics for researchers and institutions. Financial technology companies are developing advanced financial services and products to improve the financial inclusion of many people. Nevertheless, a considerable number of people still don't benefit from the basic financial services. This article aims to define the evolution of scientific research on “FinTech” and “financial inclusion” through a bibliometric review and thematic analysis of 567 publications. The study identified key insights in terms of articles, authors’ productivity, most studied countries, main theories used, journal performance, and five thematic clusters enabling researchers to gain a comprehensive understanding of the field. To synthesize these insights, we propose two integrative conceptual frameworks to advance the field. We also explored the different implications of financial inclusion for disadvantaged populations, helping policymakers to develop coherent cross‐sectoral strategies to address the challenges and harness the synergies and benefits of this dynamic field.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Journal of Economic Surveys
Published
2026-01-14
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/joes.70061
Primary Topic
FinTech, Crowdfunding, Digital Finance
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

FinTech for Financial Inclusion: A Comprehensive Review, Integrative Framework, and Bibliometric Analysis

Zahra Adardour, Omar El Mortagi, Ibtissam El‐Ghaylany, Khaled Hussainey et al.
Journal of Economic Surveys
FinTech, Crowdfunding, Digital Finance
article

FinTech for Financial Inclusion: A Comprehensive Review, Integrative Framework, and Bibliometric Analysis

Zahra Adardour, Omar El Mortagi, Ibtissam El‐Ghaylany, Khaled Hussainey, Slimane Ed‐Dafali
article en

Abstract

ABSTRACT Over two decades, financial inclusion and FinTech have been crucial topics for researchers and institutions. Financial technology companies are developing advanced financial services and products to improve the financial inclusion of many people. Nevertheless, a considerable number of people still don't benefit from the basic financial services. This article aims to define the evolution of scientific research on “FinTech” and “financial inclusion” through a bibliometric review and thematic analysis of 567 publications. The study identified key insights in terms of articles, authors’ productivity, most studied countries, main theories used, journal performance, and five thematic clusters enabling researchers to gain a comprehensive understanding of the field. To synthesize these insights, we propose two integrative conceptual frameworks to advance the field. We also explored the different implications of financial inclusion for disadvantaged populations, helping policymakers to develop coherent cross‐sectoral strategies to address the challenges and harness the synergies and benefits of this dynamic field.

Journal of Economic Surveys
Bangor University (GB), Chouaib Doukkali University (MA)
Reduced inequalities
Openalex Percentile: Top 91%
FinTech, Crowdfunding, Digital Finance
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.