Introduction: the world of human-centred digital finance

Anette Broløs, Erin B. Taylor, Jillet Sarah Sam and Shriram Venkatraman

Chapter 1 in Digital Human Finance, 2026, pp 1-18 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: This introductory chapter establishes a human-centred framework for understanding digital financial services (DFS) by examining how technological innovations intersect with diverse social realities and cultural practices. The authors demonstrate that DFS are not merely innovative technological tools but are deeply embedded in complex social relationships, often requiring ‘human bridges’ to address context-specific infrastructural gaps. While surveying hopes surrounding financial inclusion, empowerment and risk reduction, the chapter highlights persistent inequalities, emerging intermediaries and ethical dilemmas of datafication. The authors thus critique the prevailing techno-optimistic narratives, arguing that while DFS promise increased access, empowerment and financial inclusion, the actual outcomes remain highly context-dependent and are shaped by existing social hierarchies, cultural norms, local moral economies, relational networks and power dynamics. Drawing on classical and contemporary anthropological and sociological perspectives, particularly Keith Hart's concept of the ‘human economy’, the authors advocate for a holistic approach that considers the interplay between formal and informal financial sectors. The chapter identifies key tensions, including issues of access versus usage, empowerment versus exploitation and technological innovation versus social sustainability, thereby establishing the foundation for subsequent chapters that explore these dynamics across diverse global contexts.

Keywords: Digital Financial Services; Financial Inclusion; Human Bridges; Social Networks; Technological Adoption (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035344925
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