Financial Inclusion, Digital Technology and Farmers' Well‐Being Nexus: Evidence From Rural of Xizang, China

ABSTRACT

The paper examines the impact of financial inclusion on farmers' well‐being and the moderating role of digital technology in this relationship in rural areas of Xizang, China. It relies on transaction cost theory to equate utility with well‐being, using 2021 micro‐survey data from the region to address its objectives. The findings reveal a positive impact of financial inclusion on farmers' well‐being. To examine the moderating role of digital technology, the paper explores both internal and external embedding of digital technology. The findings indicate that the impact of external embedding is greater than that of internal embedding. Additionally, the paper provides evidence that financial inclusion significantly improves the well‐being of farmers in poverty‐eradicated and non‐elite rural groups, showing no indication of “favoring the rich over the poor” or “elite capture.” These findings provide new evidence for research on farmers' well‐being in underdeveloped regions.