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This study explores the impact of digital financial inclusion (DFI) on older adults' health outcomes and the underlying mechanisms. Using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), we employ a two-way fixed effects model and an instrumental variable approach. The results indicate that advancing DFI significantly improves self-rated health and reduces functional impairment and depression in older adults. DFI primarily improves health outcomes by increasing the ability and willingness to pay for health investments. The positive effect of DFI on health is more pronounced among older adults in Midwestern provinces, with digital access, under 75 years old, and living with their children. These findings highlight the potential of DFI to promote healthy aging, and suggest that policy efforts should prioritize digital financial product innovation, strengthen payment capacity, and integrate health platforms to foster proactive health management. Targeted initiatives to improve digital access and literacy are also essential to ensure that vulnerable groups equitably share in the health benefits of the digital economy.
Yuan et al. (Tue,) studied this question.