Research article

Can digital financial inclusion effectively stimulate technological Innovation of agricultural enterprises?—A case study on China

  • Received: 12 September 2021 Accepted: 15 November 2021 Published: 22 November 2021
  • JEL Codes: C67, C80, O30, Q10

  • Digital financial inclusion is a new product of traditional finance through digitalization and technologization. This paper uses the data of China's A-share listed agricultural companies from 2015 to 2020 to explore the impact of digital financial inclusion on the technological innovation efficiency of agricultural enterprises and answer the question of whether digital financial inclusion can solve the financing problems of agricultural enterprises and provide them the necessary support to stimulate their technological innovation effectively. Firstly, the data envelopment analysis (DEA) is used to measure the technological innovation efficiency of agricultural enterprises, and the Tobit model is adopted to analyze the impact of digital financial inclusion on the technological innovation efficiency of agricultural enterprises. Secondly, the influence mechanism of digital financial inclusion is explored. Thirdly, the heterogeneity test is conducted for enterprises with different characteristics. Finally, we discuss how the marginal effect of digital financial inclusion changes. The empirical results show that: first, digital financial inclusion has a significant promoting effect on the technological innovation efficiency of agricultural enterprises, and the impact is prominent in a wide range; second, digital financial inclusion can promote technological innovation through the mechanism of enterprise digitization, financing constraints and market efficiency; third, non-state-owned enterprises with high financing level are more suitable to encourage innovation through digital financial inclusion; fourth, the promoting effect of digital financial inclusion has structural characteristics, and it shows an increasing trend with the improvement of enterprise innovation level.

    Citation: Jinhui Zhu, Zhenghui Li. Can digital financial inclusion effectively stimulate technological Innovation of agricultural enterprises?—A case study on China[J]. National Accounting Review, 2021, 3(4): 398-421. doi: 10.3934/NAR.2021021

    Related Papers:

  • Digital financial inclusion is a new product of traditional finance through digitalization and technologization. This paper uses the data of China's A-share listed agricultural companies from 2015 to 2020 to explore the impact of digital financial inclusion on the technological innovation efficiency of agricultural enterprises and answer the question of whether digital financial inclusion can solve the financing problems of agricultural enterprises and provide them the necessary support to stimulate their technological innovation effectively. Firstly, the data envelopment analysis (DEA) is used to measure the technological innovation efficiency of agricultural enterprises, and the Tobit model is adopted to analyze the impact of digital financial inclusion on the technological innovation efficiency of agricultural enterprises. Secondly, the influence mechanism of digital financial inclusion is explored. Thirdly, the heterogeneity test is conducted for enterprises with different characteristics. Finally, we discuss how the marginal effect of digital financial inclusion changes. The empirical results show that: first, digital financial inclusion has a significant promoting effect on the technological innovation efficiency of agricultural enterprises, and the impact is prominent in a wide range; second, digital financial inclusion can promote technological innovation through the mechanism of enterprise digitization, financing constraints and market efficiency; third, non-state-owned enterprises with high financing level are more suitable to encourage innovation through digital financial inclusion; fourth, the promoting effect of digital financial inclusion has structural characteristics, and it shows an increasing trend with the improvement of enterprise innovation level.



    加载中


    [1] Afrin S, Haider MZ, Islam MS (2017) Impact of financial inclusion on technical efficiency of paddy farmers in Bangladesh. Agric Financ Rev 77: 484-505. doi: 10.1108/AFR-06-2016-0058
    [2] Aghion P, Fally T, Scarpetta S (2007) Credit constraints as a barrier to the entry and post-entry growth of firms. Econ Policy 52: 732-779. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-0327.2007.00190.x
    [3] Aghion P, Howitt P (1992) A model of growth through creative destruction. Econometrica 60: 323-351. doi: 10.2307/2951599
    [4] Allen F, Carletti E, Cull R, et al. (2014) The African Financial Development and Financial Inclusion Gaps. J Afr Econ 23: 614-642. doi: 10.1093/jae/eju015
    [5] Ardito L, Raby S, Albino V, et al. (2021) The duality of digital and environmental orientations in the context of SMEs: Implications for innovation performance. J Bus Res 123: 44-56. doi: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.09.022
    [6] Armendariz B, Morduch J (2005) The Economics of Microfinance. MIT Press.
    [7] Aziz A, Naima U (2021) Rethinking digital financial inclusion: Evidence from Bangladesh. Technol Soc 64: 101509.
    [8] Brancati E (2015) Innovation financing and the role of relationship lending for SMEs. Small Bus Econ 44: 449-473. doi: 10.1007/s11187-014-9603-3
    [9] Chao XR, Kou G, Peng Y, et al. (2021) Large-scale group decision-making with non-cooperative behaviors and heterogeneous preferences: An application in financial inclusion. Eur J Oper Res 288: 271-293. doi: 10.1016/j.ejor.2020.05.047
    [10] Charnes A, Cooper WW, Rhodes E (1978) Measuring the efficiency of decision making units. Eur J Oper Res 2: 429-444. doi: 10.1016/0377-2217(78)90138-8
    [11] Cohen W, Cripps M, Machin S, et al. (1996) A reprise of size and R & D. Econ J 106: 925-951. doi: 10.2307/2235365
    [12] Demir A, Pesque-Cela V, Altunbas Y, et al. (2020) Fintech, financial inclusion and income inequality: a quantile regression approach. Eur J Financ 27: 397-418.
    [13] Duarte J, Siegel S, Young L (2012) Trust and Credit: The Role of Appearance in Peer-to-peer Lending. Rev Financ Stud 25: 2455-2484. doi: 10.1093/rfs/hhs071
    [14] Escobar S, Santander M, Useche P, et al. (2020) Aligning Strategic Objectives with Research and Development Activities in a Soft Commodity Sector: A Technological Plan for Colombian Cocoa Producers. Agriculture-basel 10: 141.
    [15] Ezzahid E, Elouaourti Z (2021) Financial inclusion, mobile banking, informal finance and financial exclusion: micro-level evidence from Morocco. Int J Soc Econ 48: 1060-1086. doi: 10.1108/IJSE-11-2020-0747
    [16] Fuster A, Plosser M, Schnabl P, et al. (2019) The Role of Technology in Mortgage Lending. Rev Financ Stud 32: 1854-1899. doi: 10.1093/rfs/hhz018
    [17] Galvez-Sanchez FJ, Lara-Rubio J, Verdu-Jover AJ, et al. (2021) Research Advances on Financial Inclusion: A Bibliometric Analysis. Sustainability 13: 3156.
    [18] Ghosh K, Khuntia J, Chawla S, et al. (2014) Media Reinforcement for Psychological Empowerment in Chronic Disease Management. Commun Assoc Inf Syst 34: 419-438.
    [19] Gibbert M, Hoegl M, Valikangas L (2014) Introduction to the Special Issue: Financial Resource Constraints and Innovation. J Prod Innovation Manage 31: 197-201. doi: 10.1111/jpim.12089
    [20] Gorodnichenko Y, Schnitzer M (2013) Financial Constraints and Innovation: Why poor Countries don't catch up. J Eur Econ Assoc 11: 1115-1152. doi: 10.1111/jeea.12033
    [21] Hadlock CJ, Pierce JR (2010) New Evidence on Measuring Financial Constraints: Moving Beyond the KZ Index. Rev Financ Stud 23: 1909-1940. doi: 10.1093/rfs/hhq009
    [22] Hall BH, Lerner J (2010) Chapter 14—The Financing of R & D and Innovation, In: Hall BH, Rosenberg N, Handbook of the Economics of Innovation, 2 Eds., North-Holland, 609-639.
    [23] He M, Walheer B (2020) Technology intensity and ownership in the Chinese manufacturing industry: A labor productivity decomposition approach. Nat Account Rev 2: 110-137. doi: 10.3934/NAR.2020007
    [24] Hill CWL, Snell SA (1988) External control, corporate strategy, and firm performance in research-intensive industries. Strat Manage J 9: 577-590. doi: 10.1002/smj.4250090605
    [25] Hsu PH, Tian X, Xu Y (2014) Financial development and innovation: Cross-country evidence. J Financ Econ 112: 116-135. doi: 10.1016/j.jfineco.2013.12.002
    [26] Huang SS, Bai Y, Tan QM (2017) How Does the Concentration of Determinants Affect Industrial Innovation Performance? An Empirical Analysis of 23 Chinese Industrial Sectors. PloS One 12: e0169473.
    [27] Huang ZH, Liao GK, Li ZH (2019) Loaning scale and government subsidy for promoting green innovation. Technol Forecast Soc Change 144: 148-156. doi: 10.1016/j.techfore.2019.04.023
    [28] Juríčková Z, Lušňáková Z, Hallová M, et al. (2020) Environmental Impacts and Attitudes of Agricultural Enterprises for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development. Agriculture-basel 10: 440.
    [29] Laeven L, Levine R, Michalopoulos S (2015) Financial innovation and endogenous growth. J Financ Interm 24: 1-24. doi: 10.1016/j.jfi.2014.04.001
    [30] Lee CC, Wang CW, Ho SJ (2020) Financial inclusion, financial innovation, and firms' sales growth. Int Rev Econ Financ 66: 189-205. doi: 10.1016/j.iref.2019.11.021
    [31] Li J, Wu Y, Xiao JJ (2020) The impact of digital finance on household consumption: Evidence from China. Econ Model 86: 317-326. doi: 10.1016/j.econmod.2019.09.027
    [32] Li TH, Zhong JH, Zhang H, et al. (2019) Chinese financial cycle spillovers to developed countries. Green Financ 1: 364-386. doi: 10.3934/GF.2019.4.364
    [33] Li ZH, Chen L, Dong H (2021) What are bitcoin market reactions to its-related events? Int Re Econ Financ 73: 1-10.
    [34] Li ZH, Dong H, Floros C, et al. (2021) Re-examining Bitcoin Volatility: A CAViaR-based Approach. Emerg Mark Financ Trade, 1-19.
    [35] Li ZH, Liao GK, Albitar K (2020) Does corporate environmental responsibility engagement affect firm value? The mediating role of corporate innovation. Bus Strategy Environ 29: 1045-1055. doi: 10.1002/bse.2416
    [36] Liao GK, Drakeford BM (2019) An analysis of financial support, technological progress and energy efficiency:evidence from China. Green Financ 1: 174-187. doi: 10.3934/GF.2019.2.174
    [37] Lorenz E, Pommet S (2021) Mobile money, inclusive finance and enterprise innovativeness: an analysis of East African nations. Ind Innovation 28: 136-159. doi: 10.1080/13662716.2020.1774867
    [38] Lu ZQ, Wu JJ, Liu J (2020) Bank concentration and SME financing availability: the impact of promotion of financial inclusion in China. Int J Bank Mark 38: 1329-1349. doi: 10.1108/IJBM-01-2020-0007
    [39] Baron RM, Kenny DA (1986) The moderator-mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. J Pers Soc Psychol 51: 1173-1182. doi: 10.1037/0022-3514.51.6.1173
    [40] Shahrokhi M (2008) E-finance: status, innovations, resources and future challenges. Manag Financ 34: 365-398.
    [41] Song ML, Ai HS, Li X (2015) Political connections, financing constraints, and the optimization of innovation efficiency among China's private enterprises. Technol Forecast Soc Change 92: 290-299. doi: 10.1016/j.techfore.2014.10.003
    [42] Tapver T (2019) CSR reporting in banks: does the composition of the board of directors matter? Quant Financ Econ 3: 286-314.
    [43] Teece DJ (2010) Business Models, Business Strategy and Innovation. Long Range Plan 43: 172-194. doi: 10.1016/j.lrp.2009.07.003
    [44] Tone K (2001) A slacks-based measure of efficiency in data envelopment analysis. Eur J Oper Res 130: 498-509. doi: 10.1016/S0377-2217(99)00407-5
    [45] Toothaker, Larry E (1994) Multiple Regression: Testing and Interpreting Interactions. J Oper Res Soc 45: 119.
    [46] Tripathy N (2019) Does measure of financial development matter for economic growth in India? Quant Financ Econ 3: 508-525.
    [47] Usman M, Makhdum MSA, Kousar R (2021) Does financial inclusion, renewable and non-renewable energy utilization accelerate ecological footprints and economic growth? Fresh evidence from 15 highest emitting countries. Sust Cities Soc 65: 102590.
    [48] Verhoef PC, Broekhuizen T, Bart Y, et al. (2021) Digital transformation: A multidisciplinary reflection and research agenda. J Bus Res 122: 889-901. doi: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.09.022
    [49] Wen FH, Cao JH, Liu Z, et al. (2021) Dynamic volatility spillovers and investment strategies between the Chinese stock market and commodity markets. Int Rev Financ Anal 76: 101772.
    [50] Wen FH, Li C, Sha H, et al. (2021) How does economic policy uncertainty affect corporate risk-taking? Evidence from China. Financ Res Lett 41: 101840.
    [51] Williamson OE (1988) Corporate Finance and Corporate Governance. J Financ 43: 567-591. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-6261.1988.tb04592.x
    [52] Xie WW, Wang T, Zhao X (2020) Does Digital Financial inclusion Promote Coastal Rural Entrepreneurship? J Coast Res 103: 240-245.
    [53] Xu MR, Albitar K, Li ZH (2020) Does corporate financialization affect EVA? Early evidence from China. Green Financ 2: 392-408. doi: 10.3934/GF.2020021
    [54] Yang L, Maskus KE (2009) Intellectual property rights, technology transfer and exports in developing countries. J Dev Econ 90: 231-236. doi: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2008.11.003
    [55] Yang L, Zhang YT (2020) Digital Financial Inclusion and Sustainable Growth of Small and Micro Enterprises-Evidence Based on China's New Third Board Market Listed Companies. Sustainability 12: 3733.
    [56] Zhong JH, Li TH (2020) Impact of Financial Development and Its Spatial Spillover Effect on Green Total Factor Productivity: Evidence from 30 Provinces in China. Math Probl Eng 2020: 1-12.
  • Reader Comments
  • © 2021 the Author(s), licensee AIMS Press. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)
通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com
  • 1. 

    沈阳化工大学材料科学与工程学院 沈阳 110142

  1. 本站搜索
  2. 百度学术搜索
  3. 万方数据库搜索
  4. CNKI搜索

Metrics

Article views(2254) PDF downloads(103) Cited by(11)

Article outline

Figures and Tables

Tables(8)

Other Articles By Authors

/

DownLoad:  Full-Size Img  PowerPoint
Return
Return

Catalog