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Open research questions in Microfinance and Financial Inclusion

355 unresolved questions extracted from the limitations and future-work sections of 2,250 Microfinance and Financial Inclusion papers in our library. Each links back to the study that raised it.

What the literature leaves open

  • The study notes the challenge of limited adoption of agricultural technologies in Sub-Sahara Africa, particularly Kenya. The study highlights the challenge of accessing credit for agricultural technology adoption. The study mentions the challenge of balancing cost and logistical considerations in the sampling procedure.

    The synergistic effects of microcredit access and agricultural technology adoption on maize farmer’s income in Kenya · 2025 · DOI

  • The study identifies a gap in the understanding of the role of microcredit in facilitating agricultural technology adoption. The study highlights the limited adoption of agricultural technologies in Sub-Sahara Africa, particularly Kenya. The study notes the importance of addressing global food security and the need for urgent improvement in agricultural productivity.

    The synergistic effects of microcredit access and agricultural technology adoption on maize farmer’s income in Kenya · 2025 · DOI

  • The presence of unobserved heterogeneity, - The analysis may overlook the urban-rural financial gap, - The study results may have limitations in applicability due to the urban-rural financial gap

    Digital payments enhance both formal and informal credit access for rural households: evidence from China · 2025 · DOI

  • Further analysis on whether digital payment adoption meets farmers' credit needs, - Exploring the impact of digital payment adoption on credit access for different purposes, - Investigating the mechanisms through which digital payment adoption affects farmers' credit access

    Digital payments enhance both formal and informal credit access for rural households: evidence from China · 2025 · DOI

  • Limited access to credit and financial services for women in agriculture. Inefficient and costly alternatives for farmers due to financial exclusion. Limited productivity and poverty alleviation due to traditional and low-productivity agricultural practices.

    Nexus of women’s participation in smallholder financial inclusion programs and economic efficiency: implications for poverty alleviation · 2025 · DOI

  • the study only examines farmers in Inner Mongolia, China, - the sample size is limited to 346 rural households, - the study does not account for other complex factors that may influence e-commerce participation

    How Social Capital Drives Farmers’ Multi-Stage E-Commerce Participation: Evidence from Inner Mongolia, China · 2025 · DOI

  • further research is needed to explore the relationship between social capital and e-commerce participation in other regions, - studies should investigate the impact of other factors on e-commerce participation, - research should examine the effectiveness of interventions aimed at improving digital social literacy

    How Social Capital Drives Farmers’ Multi-Stage E-Commerce Participation: Evidence from Inner Mongolia, China · 2025 · DOI

  • Affordability significantly enhanced self-regulated confidence but did not directly improve ME, suggesting that cost reductions alone are insufficient without sustained engagement.

    Financial inclusion as a predictor of women’s investment acumen in Uganda · 2026 · DOI

  • Originality/value This study adds to scarce literature on financial inclusion and investment acumen in Uganda, highlighting access, usage and affordability as key enablers of women’s economic empowerment.

    Financial inclusion as a predictor of women’s investment acumen in Uganda · 2026 · DOI

  • In particular, there is limited evidence on whether customer trust moderates the relationship between financial inclusion and bank growth, either strengthening or weakening it.

    Financial inclusion and bank growth: the moderating role of customer trust · 2026 · DOI

  • However, the influence of cultural norms on the effectiveness of SACCO strategies has not been adequately explored.

    The Moderating Role of Cultural Factors on SACCO Strategies and Women’s Financial Empowerment in Masaka District, Uganda · 2025 · DOI

  • While financial inclusion is widely recognized for advancing access to services and fostering socio-economic agency, the specific challenges faced by physically disabled individuals, such as mobility limitations, social stigma, inadequate policy support and inaccessible infrastructure remain underexplored in empirical research.

    Exploring the Dynamics of Financial Inclusion in Enhancing Economic Empowerment among the Physically Disabled: An Empirical Investigation · 2026 · DOI

  • Limited recent empirical studies focusing specifically on RRBs in Uttar Pradesh. Lack of comprehensive analysis integrating recovery performance with GNPA and NNPA. Insufficient application of advanced statistical tools such as ANOVA in recent studies.

    Recovery Efficiency and Asset Soundness of Regional Rural Banks in Uttar Pradesh: An Empirical Study · 2026 · DOI

  • • Based only on secondary data • Limited to selected RRBs in Uttar Pradesh • Time-period constraints • The study could not isolate actual recovery from NPA reduction, as provisioning, write-offs, and loan upgradation are not separately disclosed DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION This section presents the study and clarification of data collected for the study on recovery Efficiency and Asset Soundness of selected RRBs in Uttar Pradesh. The examination is based on secondary data obtained from annual reports of the selected banks for the period 2019 to 2025. Appropriate statistical tools such as Mean, Standard Deviation, and Coefficient of Variation have been used to examine recovery Efficiency and Asset Soundness. Further, One-Way ANOVA has been applied to test the significance of differences among banks, while Karl Pearson’s correlation has been used to analyze the Interrelationship between NPAs and profitability. The results attained from these studies are systematically presented and interpreted in line with the objectives and hypotheses of the study. © 2026 The Author(s). Published by IJCOPE Journal.

    Recovery Efficiency and Asset Soundness of Regional Rural Banks in Uttar Pradesh: An Empirical Study · 2026 · DOI

  • Low digital literacy among traders and consumers. Concerns related to cybersecurity, data privacy, and potential financial fraud. Limited infrastructure and poor internet connectivity.

    Cashless Economy and Digital Currency: Implications for Jharkhand’s Local Markets · 2026 · DOI

  • The study identifies a gap in the understanding of the implications of a cashless economy and digital currency on local markets in Jharkhand. The research aims to address this gap by analyzing the level of awareness and adoption of digital payments and digital currency among local market participants.

    Cashless Economy and Digital Currency: Implications for Jharkhand’s Local Markets · 2026 · DOI

  • Inadequate awareness and cybersecurity apprehensions - Poor internet connectivity and language barriers - Limited digital competence among rural Indians

    Impact of Digital Literacy on Financial Inclusion in Rural India · 2026 · DOI

  • Longitudinal studies on the impact of digital literacy interventions on financial behavior - Development of a standardized framework for measuring digital financial literacy - Examination of the 'digital financial footprint' concept in different contexts

    Impact of Digital Literacy on Financial Inclusion in Rural India · 2026 · DOI

  • Future studies can examine the relationships between FOMO, SI, RP, financial literacy, self-control, and investment decisions in different cultural and economic contexts. Researchers can explore the impact of other factors, such as personality traits and cognitive biases, on investment decision-making. Studies can investigate the effectiveness of “anti-FOMO” education and self-control development programs in promoting responsible investment behavior.

    Behavioral Determinants of FOMO-Driven Investments: The Mediating Role of Literacy and Self-Control · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a lack of research on the behavioral determinants of FOMO-driven investments among Credit Union members. Prior studies have not examined the relationships between FOMO, SI, RP, financial literacy, self-control, and investment decisions in a community-based financial setting.

    Behavioral Determinants of FOMO-Driven Investments: The Mediating Role of Literacy and Self-Control · 2026 · DOI

  • The study identifies a gap in the understanding of the déterminants du comportement de 'tout-cash' chez les fonctionnaires. The study highlights the need for further research on the impact of bancarisation on the épargne in rural areas.

    BANCARISATION DE LA PAIE ET COMPORTEMENT D’EPARGNE DES FONCTIONNAIRES DE L’ETAT EN TERRITOIRE DE MAHAGI, PROVINCE DE L’ITURI EN REPUBLIQUE DEMOCRATIQUE DU CONGO · 2026 · DOI

  • Previous research has mainly focused on listed firms or aggregate measures, overlooking the broader business landscape. The study identifies a gap in the literature on the determinants of loan allocation by development banks.

    Financial constraints and development policies: evidence from Brazilian development bank loans · 2026 · DOI

  • Future research should investigate the impact of inclusive finance on small businesses in other countries. Future research should examine the effectiveness of different inclusive financial policies and programs in promoting the development of small businesses. Future research should explore the potential of digital finance to support small businesses in accessing financial resources.

    THE IMPACT OF INCLUSIVE FINANCE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF VIETNAMESE SMALL ENTERPRISES · 2026 · DOI

  • The study identifies a gap in the understanding of the role of inclusive finance in promoting the development of small businesses in Vietnam. The study highlights the need for further research on the benefits and challenges of digital finance for small businesses.

    THE IMPACT OF INCLUSIVE FINANCE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF VIETNAMESE SMALL ENTERPRISES · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of capital appears to be a significant barrier for women entrepreneurs in Bangladesh. Foreign banks rely on hard information and have minimal relationship lending activities, making it challenging for women-owned small businesses to access financing.

    Are foreign banks a good option for women entrepreneurs in Bangladesh seeking financing? · 2026 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Microfinance and Financial Inclusion

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355 open questions have been extracted from the limitations and future-work passages of 2,250 Microfinance and Financial Inclusion papers in our 4.5M-paper local library. Each one below links back to the study that raised it, so you can read the original claim in context.

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