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Digital finance and financial literacy: Evidence from Chinese households

Author

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  • Yang, Junhong
  • Wu, Yu
  • Huang, Bihong

Abstract

We measure financial literacy and study its impact on household use of digital finance using the 2015 and 2017 China Household Finance Survey. We find that financial literacy significantly boosts the use of digital finance, including mobile payments, online borrowing, and online financial products. This effect is more pronounced for online borrowing and online financial products than for mobile payments. This result suggests that the impact of financial literacy increases with the complexity of digital finance. Furthermore, financial literacy plays a more important role in promoting the use of digital financial services among disadvantaged groups, such as families with low income and wealth, the elderly, and residents in rural areas, compared with their counterparts.

Suggested Citation

  • Yang, Junhong & Wu, Yu & Huang, Bihong, 2023. "Digital finance and financial literacy: Evidence from Chinese households," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbfina:v:156:y:2023:i:c:s0378426623001966
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbankfin.2023.107005
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    Cited by:

    1. Linsheng Chen & Jianli Bai & Shiwei Xu & Zhengrong Cheng & Jiahui Chen, 2024. "Financial Literacy, Fintech, and Risky Financial Investment in Urban Households—An Analysis Based on CHFS Data," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-17, October.
    2. Qian, Yuting & Tan, Weiqiang & Wu, Jingbo, 2024. "Household financial literacy and retirement planning in rural China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    3. Song, Yunxing & Gong, Yuanyuan & Song, Yan & Chen, Xiaohui, 2024. "Exploring the impact of digital inclusive finance on consumption volatility: Insights from household entrepreneurship and income volatility," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    4. Lu, Xiaomeng & Zhang, Xianjun & Guo, Jiaojiao & Yue, Pengpeng, 2024. "Digital finance era: Will individual investors become better players?," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    5. Yoga Affandi & Masagus M. Ridhwan & Irwan Trinugroho & Danny Hermawan, 2023. "Digital Adoption, Business Performance, And Financial Literacy In Ultra-Micro, Micro, And Small Enterprises In Indonesia," Working Papers WP/13/2023, Bank Indonesia.
    6. Affandi, Yoga & Ridhwan, Masagus M. & Trinugroho, Irwan & Hermawan Adiwibowo, Danny, 2024. "Digital adoption, business performance, and financial literacy in ultra-micro, micro, and small enterprises in Indonesia," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 70(PB).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Financial literacy; Digital finance; Household finance; CHFS; China;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D10 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - General
    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness

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