Revisiting long-run dynamics between financial inclusion and economic growth in developing nations: evidence from CS-ARDL approach

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to analyze the long-run dynamic relationship between financial inclusion and economic growth for developing nations.

Design/methodology/approach

This study develops a comprehensive financial inclusion index based on the UNDP methodology for 53 developing nations. The authors use second-generation unit root tests, cointegration techniques and an advanced dynamic common correlated effects estimator model called cross-sectional augmented autoregressive distributed lags (CS-ARDL) to examine long-run dynamics among variables.

Findings

The tests confirm the presence of slope-heterogeneity and cross-sectional dependency. The second-generation panel unit root tests show the chosen variables are stationary at first difference. The bootstrap Westerlund cointegration result shows the variables are cointegrated in the long run. The CS-ARDL estimates conclude that financial inclusion positively enhances gross domestic product per capita in selected developing countries. The robustness check through augmented mean group estimation validates the findings.

Originality/value

The study makes three important contributions: first, it constructs a comprehensive financial inclusion index using 10 variables for a panel of 53 developing nations; second, the potential cross-section dependence and slope heterogeneity of panel data have been accounted for by applying the second-generation unit root tests; third, the study uses the dynamic common correlated effects estimator model (CS-ARDL) to examine long-run dynamics among variables.

Citation

Mir, T.A., Gopinathan, R. and Joshi, D.P.P. (2024), "Revisiting long-run dynamics between financial inclusion and economic growth in developing nations: evidence from CS-ARDL approach", Journal of Financial Economic Policy, Vol. 16 No. 2, pp. 176-193. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFEP-07-2023-0186