The Impact of Digital Financial Inclusion on Rural Household Income Inequality: Evidence from China

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摘要

Digital financial inclusion (DFI), as a core driver of financial system reform, has reshaped rural financial service accessibility and resource allocation efficiency in China. This study explores the impact of DFI on rural household income inequality and its underlying mechanisms, using panel data from 30 Chinese provinces over the period 2013–2022. Employing the two-way fixed effects model and mediating effect analysis, we find that: (1) DFI significantly reduces rural household income inequality, with a 1% increase in the DFI index leading to a 0.23% decrease in the Gini coefficient of rural household income; (2) the income-increasing effect of DFI is more pronounced for low-income rural households, primarily through expanding credit access and promoting non-farm employment; (3) regional heterogeneity exists—DFI exerts a stronger inequality-reducing effect in central and western rural areas compared to eastern regions, due to the relatively lower initial financial development level in underdeveloped regions. These findings suggest that optimizing DFI infrastructure and targeted policy support for vulnerable rural groups can further narrow rural income gaps and promote inclusive growth.

文献引用

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