Abstract Digital financial inclusion (DFI) plays a vital role in alleviating multidimensional poverty (MP), particularly among vulnerable groups. Grounded in Sen’s Capability Approach and using microdata from the 2019 China Household Finance Survey (CHFS), this study develops a multidimensional poverty index (MPI) for young migrant workers in China and examines the impact of DFI on poverty reduction. Employing Probit, Tobit, instrumental variables (IV), and moderation models, the results show that DFI significantly mitigates MP, with stronger effects observed in western China. Digitalization exerts the greatest influence among the DFI components, followed by the breadth of coverage and the depth of usage. The study finds no evidence of household-level “elite capture,” and the relationship between DFI and MP displays an inverted U-shaped pattern. Overall, the findings underscore the capacity of DFI to expand substantive freedoms, reduce poverty, and promote social equity, highlighting the importance of developing inclusive digital infrastructure and enhancing financial literacy programs to support equitable digital transformation and sustainable poverty reduction.
Luo et al. (Thu,) studied this question.
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