FinTech and Sustainable Development: Evidence from China Based on P2P Data

Xiang Deng, Zhi Huang and Xiang Cheng
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Xiang Deng: School of Economics, Sichuan University, No. 24 South Section 1 Yihuan Road, Chengdu 610064, China
Zhi Huang: School of Economics, Sichuan University, No. 24 South Section 1 Yihuan Road, Chengdu 610064, China
Xiang Cheng: School of Economics, Sichuan University, No. 24 South Section 1 Yihuan Road, Chengdu 610064, China

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 22, 1-19

Abstract: In the current international context, the ways in which financial technology (FinTech) affects sustainable development need to be urgently identified. However, relevant studies are rare and there is no consensus on the optimal indicator system for sustainable development. Therefore, this study proposes an indicator system to evaluate sustainability and conducts in-depth analysis of the relationship between FinTech and sustainable development based on data of peer-to-peer platforms (P2P) in 31 Chinese provinces. The empirical results show the existence of a U-shaped relationship between FinTech and sustainable development, mainly determined by the pattern of extensive economic growth. Furthermore, heterogeneity analysis indicates that there are significant regional differences in its impact on sustainable development, being significant in China’s eastern and central regions and insignificant in the western region; moreover, the impact on the central region is significantly higher than that on the eastern region. Our research not only has strong practical significance but also contributes significantly to the literature on FinTech and sustainable development.

Keywords: financial technology; sustainable development; economic growth; social development; consumption emission; environmental governance; peer-to-peer (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (41)

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