Have a personal or library account? Click to login
Financial inclusion and economic growth in Vietnam: Evidence across provinces and income groups Cover

Financial inclusion and economic growth in Vietnam: Evidence across provinces and income groups

Open Access
|Feb 2026

References

  1. Ahmad, M., Majeed, A., Khan, M. A., Sohaib, M., & Shehzad, K. (2021). Digital financial inclusion and economic growth: Provincial data analysis of China. China Economic Journal, 14(3), 291–310. https://doi.org/10.1080/17538963.2021.1882064
  2. Ang, J. B. (2011). Savings mobilization, financial development and liberalization: The case of Malaysia. Review of Income and Wealth, 57(3), 449–470. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-4991.2010.00411.x
  3. Apergis, N., & Poufinas, T. (2020). The role of insurance growth in economic growth: Fresh evidence from a panel of OECD countries. The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, 53, 101217. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.najef.2020.101217
  4. Arellano, M., & Bond, S. (1991). Some tests of specification for panel data: Monte Carlo evidence and an application to employment equations. Review of Economic Studies, 58(2), 277–297. https://doi.org/10.2307/2297968
  5. Asian Development Bank (ADB). (2000). Finance for the poor: Microfinance development strategy. Asian Development Bank. https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/institutional-document/32094/financepolicy.pdf
  6. Barcellos, S. H., & Zamarro, G. (2019). Unbanked status and use of alternative financial services among minority populations. Journal of Pension Economics and Finance, 20(4), 468–481. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1474747219000052
  7. Basnayake, D., Naranpanawa, A., Selvanathan, S., & Bandara, J. S. (2024). Financial inclusion through digitalization and economic growth in Asia-Pacific countries. International Review of Financial Analysis, 96, 103596. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.irfa.2024.103596
  8. Bayar, Y., & Gavriletea, M. D. (2018). Financial inclusion and economic growth: Evidence from transition economies of European Union. Journal of International Finance and Economics, 18(2), 95–100. https://doi.org/10.18374/JIFE-18-2.9
  9. Beck, T., Demirgüç-Kunt, A., & Levine, R. (2009). Financial institutions and markets across countries and over time — data and analysis. Policy Research Working Paper, 4943. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/server/api/core/bit-streams/46a81459-f084-5d07-98ba-c1daa0cd44b5/content
  10. Blundell, R., & Bond, S. (1998). Initial conditions and moment restrictions in dynamic panel data models. Journal of Econometrics, 87(2), 115–143. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-4076(98)00009-8
  11. Bond, S. R. (2002). Dynamic panel data models: A guide to micro data methods and practice. Portuguese Economic Journal, 1(2), 141–162. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10258-002-0009-9
  12. Borensztein, E., De Gregorio, J., & Lee, J. W. (1998). How does foreign direct investment affect economic growth? Journal of International Economics, 45(1), 115–135. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-1996(97)00033-0
  13. Breunig, R., & Majeed, O. (2020). Inequality, poverty and economic growth. International Economics, 161, 83–99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.inteco.2019.11.005
  14. Chen, H., Liu, Y., Li, Z., & Xue, D. (2017). Urbanization, economic development and health: Evidence from China’s labor-force dynamic survey. International Journal for Equity in Health, 16, 207. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-017-0705-9
  15. Chen, Z., Ali, S., Lateef, M., Khan, A. I., & Anser, M. K. (2023). The nexus between asymmetric financial inclusion and economic growth: Evidence from the top 10 financially inclusive economies. Borsa Istanbul Review, 23(2), 368–377. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bir.2022.11.004
  16. Crane, D. B., Froot, K. A., Mason, S. P., Perold, A., Merton, R. C., Bodie, Z., Sirri, E. R., & Tufano, P. (1995). The global financial system: A functional perspective. Harvard Business School Press.
  17. Creane, S., Goyal, R., Mobarak, A. M., & Sab, R. (2004). Financial sector development in the Middle East and North Africa. IMF Working Paper, WP/04/201. https://www.imf.org/en/-/media/websites/imf/imported-full-text-pdf/external/pubs/ft/wp/2004/_wp04201.pdf
  18. Dahiya, S., & Kumar, M. (2020). Linkage between financial inclusion and economic growth: An empirical study of emerging Indian economy. Vision: The Journal of Business Perspective, 24(2), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1177/0972262920923891
  19. Donou-Adonsou, F., & Sylwester, K. (2016). Financial development and poverty reduction in developing countries: New evidence from banks and microfinance institutions. Review of Development Finance, 6(1), 82–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rdf.2016.06.002
  20. Dorrance, G. S. (1964). Inflation and growth. Finance & Development, 1(001), 32–38. https://www.elibrary.imf.org/view/journals/022/0001/001/article-A004-en.xml
  21. Ehiedu, V. C., Onuorah, A. C., & Okoh, E. (2021). Automated Teller Machine (ATM) penetration and financial inclusiveness in Nigeria: A tripod banking system approach. Indian Journal of Economics and Business, 20(3), 1093–1104. https://www.ashwinanokha.com/resources/v20-3-62.%20VICTOR%20SCOPUS%20TWO.ED.pdf
  22. Fischer, S. (1993). The role of macroeconomic factors in growth. Journal of Monetary Economics, 32(3), 485–512. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-3932(93)90027-D
  23. Gehrung, M. (2020). The ATM around the corner — how financial development, access, and integration influence economic growth and inequality. https://ssrn.com/abstract=3595265
  24. Ghosh, S. (2011). Does financial outreach engender economic growth? Evidence from Indian states. Journal of Indian Business Research, 3(2), 74–99. https://doi.org/10.1108/17554191111132206
  25. Global Findex Database. (2021). Global financial inclusion database. World Bank Group. https://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/globalfindex/download-data
  26. Haudi, H., Hadion, W., & Yoyok, C. (2020). Analysis of most influential factors to attract foreign direct investment. Journal of Critical Reviews, 7(3), 4128–4135.
  27. Huang, R., Kale, S., Paramati, S. R., & Taghizadeh-Hesary, F. (2021). The nexus between financial inclusion and economic development: Comparison of old and new EU member countries. Economic Analysis and Policy, 69, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eap.2020.10.007
  28. Hussain, S., Rehman, A., Ullah, S., Waheed, A., & Hassan, S. (2024). Financial inclusion and economic growth: Comparative panel evidence from developed and developing Asian countries. Sage Open, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440241232585
  29. Hye, Q. M. A. (2022). Revisiting the linkage between financial inclusion and economic growth: Time series evidence from Vietnam. Edelweiss Applied Science and Technology, 6(1), 15–25. https://doi.org/10.55214/25768484.v6i1.302
  30. Khan, M. S. & Senhadji, A. S. (2000). Threshold effects in the relationship between inflation and growth. IMF Working Papers 110. https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/wp/2000/wp00110.pdf
  31. Khan, N., Zafar, M., Okunlola, A. F., Zoltan, Z., & Robert, M. (2022). Effects of financial inclusion on economic growth, poverty, sustainability, and financial efficiency: Evidence from the G20 countries. Sustainability, 14(19), 12688. https://doi.org/10.3390/su141912688
  32. Kim, D. W., Yu, J. S., & Hassan, M. K. (2018). Financial inclusion and economic growth in OIC countries. Research in International Business and Finance, 43, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ribaf.2017.07.178
  33. Kim, J. H. (2016). A study on the effect of financial inclusion on the relationship between income inequality and economic growth. Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, 52(2), 498–512. https://doi.org/10.1080/1540496X.2016.1110467
  34. Kodan, A. S., & Chhikara, K. S. (2013). A theoretical and quantitative analysis of financial inclusion and economic growth. Management and Labour Studies, 38(1–2), 103–133. https://doi.org/10.1177/0258042X13498009
  35. Levine, R. (1997). Financial development and economic growth: Views and agenda. Journal of Economic Literature, 35(2), 688–726.
  36. Lucas, R. E. (1988). On the mechanics of economic development. Journal of Monetary Economics, 22(1), 3–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-3932(88)90168-7
  37. Maity, S., & Sahu, T. N. (2023). Bank branch outreach and access to banking services toward financial inclusion: An experimental evidence. Rajagiri Management Journal, 17(2), 170–182. https://doi.org/10.1108/RAMJ-01-2022-0004
  38. Mehic, E., Silajdzic, S., & Babic-Hodovic, V. (2013). The impact of FDI on economic growth: Some evidence from Southeast Europe. Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, 49(1), 5–20. https://doi.org/10.2753/ree1540-496x4901s101
  39. Narain, K., Bhattu-Babajee, R., Gopy-Ramdhany, N., & Seetanah, B. (2022). Assessing the impact of financial inclusion on economic growth: A comparative analysis between lower middle-income countries and upper middle-income countries. The Business and Management Review, 13(1), 68–83.
  40. Nguyen, H. S., Ho, C. M., Vo, A. T., & Vo, D. H. (2023). The determinants of financial inclusion from the households’ perspectives in Vietnam. PLoS ONE, 18(9), e0291020. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0291020
  41. Nguyen, N. A., Pham, T. T., & Tran, T. T. S. (2018). Assessment of labor export activities in Vietnam. Proceedings of 14th International Conference on Humanities and Social Sciences 2018 (IC-HUSO 2018) 22–23 November 2018. Khon Kaen University. Thailand.
  42. Nguyen, N. T., Nguyen, H. S., Ho, C. M., & Vo, D. H. (2021). The convergence of financial inclusion across provinces in Vietnam: A novel approach. PLoS ONE, 16(8), e0256524. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0256524
  43. Nguyen, T. A. N., & Luong, T. T. H. (2023). The determinants of financial inclusion in Vietnam: A demand-side approach. Sage Open, 13(4). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440231210639
  44. Nguyen, T. A. N., & Nguyen, K. M. (2020). Role of financial literacy and peer effect in promotion of financial market participation: Empirical evidence in Vietnam. The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business, 7(6), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.13106/JAFEB.2020.VOL7.NO6.001
  45. Odame, C., Appiah, K. O., & Gyimah, P. (2024). The financial inclusion-economic growth nexus: What is new now? Journal of Money and Business, 4(2), 121–137. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMB-05-2023-0026
  46. Osuma, G. (2025). The impact of financial inclusion on poverty reduction and economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa: A comparative study of digital financial services. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 11, 101263. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2024.101263
  47. Pal, S., Vankila, S., & Fernandes, M. N. (2025). Interplay of financial inclusion and economic growth in emerging economies. World Development Sustainability, 6, 100201. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wds.2025.100201
  48. Pham, N. N. K., Do, M., Bui, V. H., & Nguyen, G. T. (2018). Rural-to-urban migration in Vietnam: Conceptualized youth’s vulnerabilities in the city. International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care, 14(1), 117–130. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijmhsc-11-2015-0044
  49. Sahay, R., Čihák, M., N’Diaye, P., Barajas, A., Mitra, S., Kyobe, A., Mooi, Y. N., & Yousefi, S. R. (2015). Financial inclusion: Can it meet multiple macroeconomic goals? IMF Staff Discussion Note, SDN/15/17. https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/sdn/2015/sdn1517.pdf
  50. Sarel, M. (1995). Nonlinear effects of inflation on economic growth. IMF Working Papers, 056. https://doi.org/10.5089/9781451968316.001
  51. Sarma, M (2008). Index of financial inclusion. Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations Working Paper, 215.
  52. Sethi, D., & Acharya, D. (2018). Financial inclusion and economic growth linkage: some cross-country evidence. Journal of Financial Economic Policy, 10(3), 369–385. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFEP-11-2016-0073
  53. Sequeira, T. N. (2021). Inflation, economic growth and education expenditure. Economic Modelling, 99, 105475. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econmod.2021.02.016
  54. Sharma, D. (2016). Nexus between financial inclusion and economic growth: Evidence from the emerging Indian economy. Journal of Financial Economic Policy, 8(1), 13–36. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFEP-01-2015-0004
  55. Siddiki, J., & Bala-Keffi, L. R. (2024). Revisiting the relation between financial inclusion and economic growth: A global analysis using panel threshold regression. Economic Modelling, 135, 106707. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econmod.2024.106707
  56. Singh, R., & Mallick, H. (2024). Financial inclusion in India: An analysis from the user-side perspective. International Journal of Social Economics, 51(9), 1167–1181. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSE-03-2023-0162
  57. Sukmana, R., & Ibrahim, M. H. (2018). Financial access and inequality: A quantile assessment. International Journal of Economics and Management, 12(2), 551–557.
  58. Tran, H. S., Nguyen, T. L., & Huynh, T. N. L. (2019). Understanding financial inclusion in Vietnam. Research in World Economy, 10(3). https://doi.org/10.5430/rwe.v10n3p382
  59. Tran, H. T. T., Le, H. T. T., Nguyen, N. T., Pham, T. T. M., & Hoang, H. T. (2022). The effect of financial inclusion on multidimensional poverty: The case of Vietnam. Cogent Economics & Finance, 10(1), 2132643. https://doi.org/10.1080/23322039.2022.2132643
  60. Tran, T. K. (2023). Does microfinancing, financial inclusion, and educational loans alleviate poverty and inequality: Evidence from Vietnam. Technological and Economic Development of Economy, 29(6), 1687–1707. https://doi.org/10.3846/tede.2023.20348
  61. Tran, T. Q., & Dinh, V. T. T. (2021). Provincial governance and financial inclusion: Micro evidence from rural Vietnam. International Public Management Journal, 24(6), 792–812. https://doi.org/10.1080/10967494.2021.1964009
  62. United Nations. (2006). Building inclusive financial sectors for development. United Nations Publishing.
  63. Usman, M., Makhdum, M. S. A., & Kousar, R. (2021). Does financial inclusion, renewable and non-renewable energy utilization accelerate ecological footprints and economic growth? Fresh evidence from 15 highest emitting countries. Sustainable Cities and Society, 65, 102590. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2020.102590
  64. Wibowo, D. H., Mardani, Y. E., & Iqbal, M. (2023). Impact of financial inclusion on economic growth and unemployment: Evidence from Southeast Asian countries. International Journal of Finance & Banking Studies, 12(2), 55–66. https://doi.org/10.20525/ijfbs.v12i2.2770
  65. World Bank. (2008). Banking the poor: Measuring banking access in 54 economies. World Bank Group. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/b355b8c8-690f-5411-b040-34e0cac89b82
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18559/ebr.2025.4.2305 | Journal eISSN: 2450-0097 | Journal ISSN: 2392-1641
Language: English
Page range: 59 - 83
Submitted on: May 22, 2025
|
Accepted on: Oct 14, 2025
|
Published on: Feb 5, 2026
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 4 issues per year

© 2026 Thi Thuy Huong Luong, Attasuda Lerskullawat, Thi Anh Nhu Nguyen, published by Poznań University of Economics and Business Press
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.