The Role of Financial Inclusion in Economic Growth : A quantitative study about financial inclusion & economic growths relationship

Abstract: This study examines the relationship between financial inclusion and economic growth, more specifically if financial inclusion is an important factor for economic growth. A sub question was stated as well, if the six proxies of the financial inclusion measurement respectively have an impact on economic growth. To help examine this research area we have compiled panel data from 20 countries with different income levels over a time period of 19 years. The time period on which this study is focusing is 2002-2020. The tests conducted in this study are the Dickey-Fuller unit root test and the Arellano-Bond dynamic panel GMM method. Given the result of the dynamic panel estimation, we found that financial inclusion has a positive relation to economic growth. The result also indicated that three of the six proxies for financial inclusion were statistically significant and have a positive relation to economic growth. To conclude, the study found empirical evidence that financial inclusion is an important factor for economic growth.