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The Effect of ICT and E-Government on Financial Inclusion

Tristán Canare et al.

Journal of the Association for Information Systems2026article
AJG 4*ABDC A*
Weight
0.50

Abstract

The developmental benefits of financial inclusion are well-documented, prompting many countries and organizations to adopt policies that expand access to formal financial services. These strategies often include enhancing access to digital technologies, based on the premise that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and e-government can promote financial inclusion. We empirically test this premise using panel data from 70 countries over the period 2008 to 2021. Employing fixed-effects and instrumental variable regressions, we find that higher levels of ICT and e-government (IEG) development are associated with greater financial inclusion. Specifically, a one-point increase in the overall IEG index is associated with 0.19 point higher overall financial inclusion score (0.45 after accounting for endogeneity). However, there are nuances to this finding. IEG is more strongly associated with the usage of financial services than with their availability or access. Moreover, developing crucial ICT infrastructure has a greater effect than making public services available online. In addition, the positive relationship between IEG and financial inclusion is generally stronger in lower-income economies and in countries with better governance. This study contributes to the literature on technology and development by identifying financial inclusion as a significant transmission channel and with important policy implications for the design of digitalization strategies, particularly for developing economies.

Cite this paper

@article{tristán2026,
  title        = {{The Effect of ICT and E-Government on Financial Inclusion}},
  author       = {Tristán Canare et al.},
  journal      = {Journal of the Association for Information Systems},
  year         = {2026},
}

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The Effect of ICT and E-Government on Financial Inclusion

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Evidence weight

0.50

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20
M · momentum0.50 × 0.15 = 0.07
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

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