Abstract
In this paper, we present a systematization of previous research on indices of financial inclusion. We then propose a conceptualization of a financial inclusion index that considers the role of digital technologies and innovations beyond the traditional financial sector, encompassing three dimensions, namely i) Access, ii) Usage, and iii) Appropriability. We utilize this framework to derive propositions for future empirical research on Decentralized Finance (DeFi), a blockchain-based financial infrastructure that bypasses traditional financial systems, to examine this technology’s contribution to financial inclusion. Lastly, we discuss theoretical and practical implications as well as limitations of our research.
Recommended Citation
Eikmanns, Benedikt and Hann, Philip, "Decentralized Finance as Catalyst for Financial Inclusion? A Research Framework for Assessing Digital Technologies' Contribution" (2023). ECIS 2023 Research Papers. 363.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/ecis2023_rp/363