THE ROLE OF DIGITAL FINANCIAL INCLUSION IN ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE POVERTY ALLEVIATION: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

This study was conducted with two main research objectives. The objectives were to (1) find out the current empirical knowledge in 'The Role of Digital Financial Inclusion in Achieving Sustainable Poverty Alleviation' and (2) find out the areas with less literature in 'The Role of Digital Financial Inclusion in Achieving Sustainable Poverty Alleviation'. The systematic literature review (SLR) approach and Preferred Reporting Items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) framework were applied in this research. Articles were discovered through Lens.org and Scopus databases, and the search terms used for the study were 'poverty alleviation' and 'digital financial inclusion. Both automated and manual screening were used to choose articles. Researchers have employed mathematical techniques based on Biblioshiny and VOSviewer. The findings highlight that digital technologies such as mobile banking, digital wallets, and international remittances serve as crucial tools for marginalised populations, enhancing their financial stability, entrepreneurial behaviour, and overall well-being. Researchers identified nine themes of keywords that highlight the broad impacts of digital financial inclusion on poverty alleviation. These themes collectively demonstrate the multifaceted impact of digital financial inclusion for economic growth and gender equality, to environmental sustainability and social development. Despite these insights, the review also identified areas with limited research, notably international remittances, environmental impact, digitalisation, and cybersecurity, which require further investigation. It is very important to further investigate these areas related to digital financial inclusion and poverty alleviation for the design of new economic policies and to achieve sustainable economic growth.