This paper examines the impact of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosure on the cost of capital for banks as well as financial technology companies in Europe, America, and Asia from 2010 to 2024. The study investigates how sustainability affects financing conditions in the two...

This Focus Note explores innovative financing strategies for reaching inclusive credit fintechs in Africa, particularly those targeting underserved micro and small enterprises (MSEs). These fintechs have the potential to address the estimated US$ 4.9 trillion global credit gap for MSEs. However,...

This paper examines how digital financial platform engagement influences financial inclusion in the Philippines and explores how financial institutions are deploying artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing these platforms. It combines nationally representative data from the World Bank Global...

The digitalization of finance has accelerated the diffusion of FinTech and raised new questions about how AI, data security and blockchain shape consumer behaviour. This article examines current FinTech users, focusing on mobile banking, security perceptions, AI-enabled personalisation and trust...

We constructed an urban fintech index and analyzed data from 2834 publicly traded Chinese enterprises for the period 2010-2022 to investigate the impact of fintech on the innovation quality of enterprises. The findings indicate that this impact is positively reinforced by the innovation...

The present study examines the influence of major and mega events on the holiday travel planning of the German resident population in 2024. The focus lies on sports and music events, which took place in large numbers in 2024 and represent an important part of the leisure time behaviour for many...

Cross-country evidence finds that there are low levels of financial literacy. Financial literacy is often measured using the "Big Three" questions about interest rates, inflation, and risk. These questions are usually part of a longer survey. Respondents in long surveys may suffer survey fatigue...

At the request of the Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan (RMA), the Monetary and Capital Markets Department (MCM) conducted a mission to review and strengthen Bhutan’s fintech regulatory sandbox (RS) framework. The mission was held from August 25 to September 2, 2025, in Thimphu, Bhutan and...

This report summarizes the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) technical assistance mission to the Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan (RMA), focused on reviewing and strengthening the fintech regulatory sandbox (RS) framework. The mission, conducted from August 25 to September 2, 2025, assessed...

The rise of fintech lenders has intensified competition in the banking industry. This study utilizes Brazilian bank-level data to examine the causal impact of increased competition on commercial banks’ lending rates and profitability. Employing a bank-specific Bartik exposure, constructed from...

The present study examines the influence of major and mega events on the holiday travel planning of the German resident population in 2024. The focus lies on sports and music events, which took place in large numbers in 2024 and represent an important part of the leisure time behaviour for many...

Over the years, the over-extraction and unsustainable utilization of natural resources has started to pose a severe environmental risk, necessitating immediate action on issues related to climate change. Therefore, this study examines the relationship between natural resources rent and...

Green fintech merges sustainable finance with data-intensive innovation, but national translations of EU rules can create regulatory risk. This study examines how such risk manifests in Central Europe and which policy tools mitigate it. We develop a three-dimension framework-regulatory clarity...

As Thailand's financial sector accelerates its digital transformation, cybersecurity has transitioned from a mere technical support function to a strategic imperative that governs operational risk and financial stability. This study empirically examines the efficacy of cyber risk controls and...

The shadow economy, which can be defined as undeclared economic activities carried out in secret from public authorities,, and that cause negativities such as tax losses outside of official economic activities, has become a part of the economic activities of both developed and devel-oping...

The goal of inclusive development places financial inclusion at the forefront of sovereign development policies, particularly in economies that are investing in digital technologies. Despite the world's progression towards technology, there is minimal empirical evidence of how efficient these...

This study investigates the potential effects of Mobile Money (MM) and Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) on the average transaction costs of remittances to Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with a focus on Nigeria. While much of the current literature highlights the theoretical benefits of CBDCs...

Green FinTech involves facilitating sustainable payments, banking, and investment; nevertheless, it is subject to consumer trust and perceptions of 'green' value. The literature on this topic is fragmented, with information systems literature typically considering trust as a broad acceptance...

As cryptocurrencies evolve from niche assets to systemic financial components, the banking sector faces a strategic dilemma: displacement or adaptation. Using 27,510 bank-year observations from 2014 to 2023 across thirty-two economies, predominantly within the European banking sector, this study...

This study investigates how strategic foresight can enhance FinTech governance and policy resilience in emerging economies, using Kuwait as an illustrative case. It aims to identify which foresight interventions should be prioritized across alternative futures to strengthen innovation, security,...

This study evaluates the early impact of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) on key financial indicators in The Bahamas, focusing on the introduction of the SandDollar-the world's first fully implemented retail CBDC. Using the Synthetic Control Method (SCM), the analysis constructs...

This paper examines the interplay between financial inclusion and FinTech in shaping banking stability, with a focus on economies in the Asia and Pacific region. Using an unbalanced panel dataset from 21 economies from 2000 to 2021, the paper finds that financial inclusion enhances banking...

Asia presently houses some of the top and dynamic economies in the world. These economies have also experienced high fintech adoption in their banking sectors. This paper examines the impact of fintech adoption and integration on the efficiency and stability of banks in 9 Asian countries, using...

Robo-advisors are evolving fintech solutions that ask potential clients about their investment purpose and time horizon and then offer investment strategies to reach different goals. This study aims to build on prior research and gain insights into the influence of innovation attributes...

This study investigates how financial technology (FinTech) contributes to economic growth, focusing on whether it acts primarily as a mediator or a moderator within the finance-growth nexus. A composite FinTech index is constructed using Principal Component Analysis based on cross-country data...

This paper examines the impact of fintech adoption and financial inclusion on financial stability in selected countries. Using panel data from 30 countries spanning 2011-2024, the study employs an empirical strategy based on Two-Way Fixed Effects, a dynamic two-step System GMM estimator, and...

Financial technology (FT) has been credited for supporting sustainable development and financial inclusion. However, issues such as balancing innovation with consumer protection and the challenges of loan default have emerged as significant concerns in this context. The study aimed to test the...

Background: Fintech companies have revolutionized the financial services industry in India in recent years. This is especially true for the growth of digital payment methods. India's unbanked are being introduced to banking by fintech companies. Despite the country's strong banking system, many...

Amidst the escalating geopolitical fragmentation of the global financial system, divergent stablecoin architectures are emerging. This study employs Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) and introduces a formalized 'Geopolitical Stablecoin' (GPSC) model to conduct a systematic comparison of...

The rapid advancement of Financial Technology (FinTech) has ushered in a new era of financial services, with innovative solutions that have the potential to transform how individuals and businesses manage their finances. This research study explores the critical factors affecting the adoption of...

This paper examines how digital metaspace technologies impact the financial market infrastructure. This paper develops a methodological platform for integrating the financial technology (FinTech) ecosystem models in the financial market infrastructure. The findings show that the benefits of...