Assessing the impact of digital financial inclusion on green total factor productivity of grain in China: promotion or inhibition?

Abstract This study investigates the influence of digital financial inclusion on green total factor productivity of grain in China, using data from 30 provinces (excluding Tibet) from 2011 to 2020. Our findings reveal a dual role of digital finance: it significantly enhances green productivity of grain in central and eastern China but has a contrasting effect in the western regions. The research also uncovers a unique pattern where the benefits of digital finance in one area can negatively affect nearby regions. This research contributes significantly to the discourse on finance and agriculture, providing nuanced perspectives on the regional implications of digital financial inclusion for grain productivity, and thereby enriching the understanding of its role in agrarian economies.