The implications of FinTech for traditional banking and regional economic development in China

Abstract

Over the past decade, the emergence of FinTech has reshaped the landscape of the financial sector worldwide. Although there are several alternative approaches to defining FinTech, a worldwide and generally accepted definition, as well as a unified, standard, and comprehensive index, is still absent. Due to data limitations, its potential effects are still far from clear. This thesis attempts to contribute to the literature by analyzing the effect and implications of FinTech for traditional banking and regional economic development in China. The general conclusion highlights the positive impacts of FinTech on both bank diversification and economic development. However, the magnitude of the positive connections strongly depends on different bank tiers and regional economic development levels.