Poverty reduction has become a top goal in the socio-economic development strategies of countries and a topic of interest for researchers. A number of prior empirical studies have identified the importance of financial inclusion to poverty reduction. However, most of these studies assess the...

"Poverty and income inequality remain a stubborn challenge in Asia and the Pacific despite the region’s rapid economic expansion in previous decades, which lifted millions out of poverty. Financial inclusion is often considered as a critical element that makes growth inclusive as access to...