Digital financial literacy and financial inclusion in the global south for a sustainable future: A scoping review

Jeswin Jose () and Nabanita Ghosh ()
Additional contact information
Jeswin Jose: CHRIST University
Nabanita Ghosh: CHRIST University

DECISION: Official Journal of the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, 2025, vol. 52, issue 1, No 9, 129-148

Abstract: Abstract Financial literacy is the backbone of financial inclusion. In the post-COVID world, exploring how digital financial literacy (DFL) can contribute to financial inclusion is essential. This scoping review aims to synthesise existing knowledge on the relationship between DFL and financial inclusion specifically in the context of the global south and provide future avenues in the research domain in light of achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs). The review follows the PRISMA-ScR framework. Databases such as Scopus, Science Direct, Sage, Emerald, Taylor & Francis, and Wiley were systematically searched to identify relevant literature. Conceptual studies, literature reviews, and empirical studies (quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method studies) were included in the review. The screening was conducted in two stages–title and abstract screening and full-text screening. The findings indicate a positive relationship between financial literacy and financial inclusion. Despite the importance of digital financial literacy and financial inclusion in the global south, the studies are minimal in this context, with an orientation to achieve SDG goals. Changes need to be implemented at the level of policy in order to ensure greater digital financial literacy and financial inclusion at both micro and macro levels, which will, in turn, help in achieving the SDG goals.

Keywords: Digital financial literacy; Financial inclusion; SDG; Global south (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: G5 G53 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s40622-025-00426-2 Abstract (text/html)
Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:decisn:v:52:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s40622-025-00426-2

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.springer.com/journal/40622

DOI: 10.1007/s40622-025-00426-2

Access Statistics for this article

DECISION: Official Journal of the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta is currently edited by Rajesh Babu

More articles in DECISION: Official Journal of the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta from Springer, Indian Institute of Management Calcutta
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().