Subject. The article deals with ensuring the financial inclusion as one of priorities of the socio-economic policy. Objectives. The study aims to perform a comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of using the financial infrastructure of Russian regions in ensuring the financial inclusion and identifying determinants of interregional differences. Methods. We applied DEA analysis, which enabled to assess the relative efficiency of resource use, based on the ratio of input and output indicators. The empirical base includes data for Russia’s regions for 2019–2023. To analyze the use of infrastructure, we calculated input utilization coefficients, reflecting the contribution of individual elements (banking network, digital channels, insurance organizations, etc.) to overall efficiency. Results. During the study period, there was a positive dynamics of efficiency, accompanied by a reduction in inter-regional differences. The highest values are typical for the Far Eastern, Ural, and North Caucasian Federal Districts. The leading factors in increasing the efficiency are the development of banking and insurance infrastructure, digitalization of financial services, and growing involvement of the population in non-cash payments. Furthermore, the study unveiled structural limitations in certain regions of Central and Southern Russia related to low density of financial institutions and limited access to digital services. Conclusions. Sustainable development of financial inclusion requires an integrated approach, including the development of digital channels, institutional strengthening of the financial sector, and increasing financial literacy. The findings can be used to create regional programs for financial accessibility development and the digital economy.
Keywords: financial infrastructure, financial inclusion, region, DEA analysis, regional efficiency
References:
Panova G.S., Larionova I.V. [Finance in Russia and the world: Conceptual aspects]. Finansy: teoriya i praktika, 2023, vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 105–114. (In Russ.) DOI: 10.26794/2587-5671-2023-27-3-105-114 EDN: BWDTCY
Antonets V.G. [Development of financial technology infrastructure in the context of the digital economy]. Finansovye issledovaniya, 2024, no. 1, pp. 65–79. (In Russ.) DOI: 10.54220/finis.1991-0525.2024.82.1.005 EDN: AUXAOD
Lazareva I.E. [Financial inclusion as a factor of socio-economic development]. Srednerusskii vestnik obshchestvennykh nauk, 2023, vol. 18, no. 6, pp. 69–87. (In Russ.) DOI: 10.22394/2071-2367-2023-18-6-69-87 EDN: MAOFAE
Kumacheva S.Sh., Mikheeva A.S. [Regional aspects of financial behavior: Detection of key factors and development of adaptive strategies]. Ekonomika i upravlenie, 2025, vol. 31, no. 7, pp. 914–922. (In Russ.) DOI: 10.35854/1998-1627-2025-7-914-922 EDN: TJMEJI
Sanakoev A.Yu. [Financial inclusion in the Russian Federation]. Nauchnye issledovaniya i razrabotki. Ekonomika firmy, 2024, vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 57–61. (In Russ.) DOI: 10.12737/2306-627X-2024-13-3-57-61 EDN: MKAQKY
Zharina N.A., Gaifutdinova R.Z., Vaslavskaya I.Yu. [Digitalization of money circulation in Russia]. Vestnik Akademii znanii, 2024, no. 1, pp. 414–417. (In Russ.) EDN: LCMUJO
Lopukhin A.V., Plaksenkov E.A., Sil'vestrov S.N. [Fintech as accelerating factor of inclusive, sustainable development]. Mir novoi ekonomiki, 2022, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 28–44. (In Russ.) DOI: 10.26794/2220-6469-2022-16-1-28-44 EDN: IERAWD
Zharina N.A. [Financial inclusion as a factor in improving the quality of life of the population]. Vestnik Akademii znanii, 2024, no. 3, pp. 196–199. (In Russ.) EDN: GXVFDS
Mikheeva N.N. [Inclusive and sustainable economic growth: A comparative assessment of the EAEU countries]. Nauchnye trudy: Institut narodnokhozyaistvennogo prognozirovaniya RAN, 2022, no. 20, pp. 69–86. (In Russ.) DOI: 10.47711/2076-318-2022-69-86 EDN: AMAEBY
Popova E.M., Nikitina T.V. [Financial literacy in the digital era: New opportunities and challenges]. Finansy i upravlenie, 2021, no. 4, pp. 50–67. (In Russ.) DOI: 10.25136/2409-7802.2021.4.36915 EDN: QMIPGI
Makhkamova G.M., Nyarginen V.A. [Modeling of socio-economic development State systems in the context of financial inclusion]. Regional'nye problemy preobrazovaniya ekonomiki, 2022, no. 4, pp. 97–108. (In Russ.) DOI: 10.26726/1812-7096-2022-4-97-108 EDN: EUCYXQ
Miroshnichenko T.A., Podgorskaya S.V. [Evaluation of inclusive development of rural areas of Russia regions]. Agrarnyi vestnik Urala, 2022, no. 3, pp. 83–94. (In Russ.) DOI: 10.32417/1997-4868-2022-218-03-83-94 EDN: HCJKOL
Shikhalieva D.S. [Financial inclusion as a trend of economic development in the context of digitalization]. Uchenye zapiski Rossiiskoi akademii predprinimatel'stva, 2022, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 61–65. (In Russ.) DOI: 10.24182/2073-6258-2022-21-1-61-65 EDN: KBCPLQ
Golova E.E. [Financial inclusion: New challenges in today's environment]. Ekonomika, predprinimatel'stvo i pravo, 2023, vol. 13, no. 5, pp. 1663–1682. (In Russ.) DOI: 10.18334/epp.13.5.117575 EDN: WQWPSA
Golova E.E., Baetova D.R. [Financial inclusion in the conditions of digitalization: Status and prospects]. Fundamental'nye issledovaniya, 2022, no. 10-1, pp. 42–47. (In Russ.) DOI: 10.17513/fr.43341 EDN: GSFPET
Polyaev A.S. [Approaches to defining financial inclusion]. Via Scientiarum – Doroga znanii, 2020, no. 4, pp. 131–136. (In Russ.) EDN: UNCGGN
Gimranova G.Kh. [.Digital financial literacy in the era of digital transformation of the economy]. Ekonomika i upravlenie: nauchno-prakticheskii zhurnal, 2021, no. 1, pp. 98–102. (In Russ.) DOI: 10.34773/EU.2021.1.20 EDN: JJFIBB
Nikitina T.V., Dembinskaite V.S., Skalaban M.P. [Financial literacy and its determinants]. Izvestiya Sankt-Peterburgskogo gosudarstvennogo ekonomicheskogo universiteta, 2020, no. 5, pp. 78–83. (In Russ.) EDN: WUQPUF
Khoveyni M., Eslami R. DEA Efficiency Region for Variations of Inputs and Outputs. InternationalJournal of Information Technology & Decision Making, 2021, vol. 20, no. 2, pp. 707–732. DOI: 10.1142/S0219622021500103 EDN: ZSPRPR
Verenikin A.O., Verenikina A.Yu. [Potential of digital transformation: Ranking of Russian regions]. Ekonomika regiona, 2024, vol. 20, no. 4, pp. 1008–1025. (In Russ.) DOI: 10.17059/ekon.reg.2024-4-3 EDN: DZUKRT
