The impact of digital finance on household consumption: Evidence from China

Jie Li, Yu Wu and Jing Jian Xiao

Economic Modelling, 2020, vol. 86, issue C, 317-326

Abstract: Using panel data from the China Household Finance Survey (CHFS) in 2013, 2015, and 2017 and the digital inclusive finance index developed by Peking University, this study examined impacts of the digital inclusive finance on household consumption and explored its mechanisms. Results suggest that the digital inclusive finance could promote households consumption. A heterogeneity analysis showed that households with fewer assets, lower income, less financial literacy and in third- and fourth-tier cities experienced larger facilitating effects of digital finance on consumption compared to their counterparts. For consumption categories, digital finance was positively correlated with food, clothing, house maintenance, medical care, and education and entertainment expenditures. In terms of consumption structure, digital finance mainly promoted the recurring household expenditures rather than the non-recurring expenditures. Further analyses based on the mediating model found that online shopping, digital payment, obtainment of online credit, purchase of financing products on the internet and business insurance, were the main mediating variables through which digital finance affected household consumption.

Keywords: Digital finance; Household consumption; Mediating effect (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D12 E44 G21 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (215)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecmode:v:86:y:2020:i:c:p:317-326

DOI: 10.1016/j.econmod.2019.09.027

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