Digital finance, social welfare investment, and urban–rural income inequality: Moderating role of regional economics and regional disparities

Yibo Liu and Caisheng Dong

Finance Research Letters, 2025, vol. 77, issue C

Abstract: This study analyzes the impact of digital finance and social welfare investment on the urban–rural income gap using panel data from 31 Chinese provinces and municipalities from 2010 to 2022. Findings show that the development of digital finance positively affects closing the urban–rural income gap; however, increased social welfare investment exacerbates this imbalance. Regional economics moderates this process by influencing the relationship between social welfare investment and income inequality, and the impact of social welfare investment on the urban–rural income gap varies significantly among regions.

Keywords: Digital finance; Social security; Income gap (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:finlet:v:77:y:2025:i:c:s1544612325003411

DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2025.107077

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