Does financial inclusion help alleviate household poverty and vulnerability in China?

Abstract

This paper investigates the impact of financial Inclusion on household poverty and vulnerability by constructing a household financial inclusion index using the China Household Finance Survey 2015. It is found that financial Inclusion significantly reduces the probability of poverty and vulnerability of households and has a more significant impact on vulnerable groups such as rural and urban low-income people. Further, financial Inclusion has a more significant effect on poor families that do not receive government support for poverty alleviation and can complement co-insurance mechanisms to help families better cope with vulnerabilities caused by synergistic community shocks. Finally, promoting entrepreneurship and improving risk management capabilities are the main channels of financial Inclusion.