Sustainable Financial Inclusion Impact on SMEs’ Performance: Systematic Literature Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33032/acr.7143Kulcsszavak:
sustainable financial inclusion, SMEs, FinTech, financial literacy, ESG principlesAbsztrakt
Small and Medium enterprises have been widely acknowledged as the prime agents of economic progress; however, they are most often confronted with various barriers to access to financial services. The amin objective of this systematic literature review is to examine the evolving relationship between sustainable financial inclusion and performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), emphasizing its critical involvement in economic development, innovation, and resilience, particularly in developing economies. Twenty-nine rigorous studies conducted between 2011 and 2025 and retrieved from the Scopus database in line with PRISMA guidelines were selected and reviewed systematically to present empirically synthesized findings on financial inclusion that enhances SME performance. The result shows that four major drivers of sustainable financial inclusion impact SME performance, i.e., digital financial technologies, financial literacy, enabling regulatory environments, and the adoption of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. The potential of FinTech is moderated by financial literacy, which is further enhanced by the increasing integration of ESG criteria into financial products, and these collectively influence SME growth, operational efficiency, and resilience. Notwithstanding notable advancements, ongoing challenges, in particular regulatory fragmentation, inadequate infrastructures, and low levels of financial literacy have impeded improvement. Therefore, the review calls for an integrated policy approach and intensive action involving all stakeholders to scale up access to inclusive and sustainable financial services for SME growth. Future research should further explore causal relationships and regional disparities in sustainable financial access and SMEs' performance.
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