Determinants of financial inclusion in Algeria: An ARDL Bounds Test approach

Abstract

Our study aims to afford an empirical insight on the factors that have a great impact on financial inclusion levels in Algeria during the period Q12004-Q42019, using ARDL approach. Using the dataset provided by the World Bank, our empirical results found that the composite index of financial inclusion (FII) based on three dimensions following Sarma (2008) approach is bounded from 0.08 to 0.51, which is proportionally small. Farther, the estimation findings revealed a positive relationship between financial inclusion index and GDP per capita as a proxy of incomes, population, oil rent, interest rate, while, money supply is not significant factor. However, the strong positive relationship is found between FII and corruption, fixed phone subscriptions as a measure of internet access, which means there are the most important determinant of FII in Algeria.