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Abstract
Fintech is a contraction of the term "financial technology", which has become increasingly popular in the financial sector in recent years. Even the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in December 2019 has not changed the fact that the Fintech industry is growing. The rapid development of Fintech has significantly impacted the traditional financial landscape, redefining the delivery of financial services, broadening their coverage, and significantly improving efficiency and convenience, injecting new vitality into the global financial industry.
The aim of this thesis is to explore the impact of Fintech on the incumbent financial system and the real economy in the Chinese context. First, to gauge the development of the Fintech area in China, this paper uses various Fintech development indicators. Notably, this thesis builds the Fintech development index by combining the multidimensional information that involves advanced technologies and Fintech-related fields. The study also uses the Peking University Digital Financial Inclusion Index of China (PKU-DFIIC) and hand-collected and constructed datasets of Fintech patents. Second, this thesis comprehensively analyses the implications of Fintech developments on corporate operational strategies in several key areas including risk-taking, liquidity creation, diversification, fraud, tax avoidance, financing, and investment policies. By exploring how Fintech shapes corporate development strategies and influences value growth in these areas, the thesis reveals the role of Fintech in optimizing resource allocation, improving corporate efficiency, and reducing operational risk. Moreover, the study analyses the potential risks and challenges that the Fintech development may pose.
The main contribution of this thesis is to provide new empirical evidence for the impact of Fintech on the development of traditional financial institutions and the real economy and to fill the gaps in existing research. Through an in-depth exploration of the economic consequences of the Fintech field, this paper not only reveals the role of Fintech in promoting the transformation of the real economy but also provides new perspectives on the benign development of the Fintech industry. Meanwhile, the findings provide valuable insights into the transformation of China's existing economic system, especially in terms of how to optimize the financial service system, improve the efficiency of resource allocation, and achieve sustainable growth in the context of the digital economy, which has important political implications.
Type
Thesis
Type of thesis
Series
Citation
Date
2025-08-01
Publisher
The University of Waikato
Supervisors
Rights
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