Digital inclusive finance, rural revitalization and rural consumption

PLoS One. 2025 Jan 3;20(1):e0310064. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0310064. eCollection 2025.

Abstract

With the rapid development of technology and the evolution of the global financial system, digital inclusive finance has become a new way to promote rural revitalization and rural residents' consumption with the power of financial technology. This study explores the relationship between digitally inclusive finance, rural revitalization, and rural residents' consumption. Based on the panel data of 30 provinces and cities in China from 2011 to 2021, this study empirically examines the impact of digitally inclusive finance on rural residents' consumption and the mediating and threshold effects of rural revitalization. The results reveal that digitally inclusive finance is conducive to the enhancement of rural residents' consumption, and rural revitalization acts as a mediator. Meanwhile, there is a nonlinear positive correlation between the impact of digitally inclusive finance and rural revitalization on rural residents' consumption, in which there is a double-threshold effect of digitally inclusive finance and rural revitalization in the lagged period. Based on the above findings, we believe that while promoting digitally inclusive finance, it is important to promote rural revitalization strategy in a timely manner, improve rural infrastructure, and continuously stimulate the impact of digitally inclusive finance on rural residents' consumption.

MeSH terms

  • China
  • Digital Technology / economics
  • Humans
  • Rural Population*

Grants and funding

Study on Green Finance Promoting the Adjustment of Energy Industry Structure in Anhui Province, SK2018A0649 Support Program for outstanding young people in universities, gxyqZD2021048 Research on the Mechanism and Path of Inclusive Finance to Help Anhui Rural Revitalization 2022CX199 General Project of Outstanding Young Talents Support Program, gxyq2022131 The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.