The impact of financial inclusion on poverty alleviation through Islamic banks

Poverty is one of the worldwide syndromes that affect a significant portion of the global population. Financial inclusion has been acknowledged as a crucial element in poverty reduction by giving disadvantaged people inexpensive access to important financial services such as money transfers, payments, investments, loans, and healthcare. This study aims to offer an empirical analysis of the effect of Islamic banking on poverty alleviation in thirty-one Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states. The analysis utilizes unbalanced annual panel data from 1990 to 2020. System Generalized Method of Moments (SGMM) is utilizing an estimator method, this research determines the empirical Human Development Index (HDI) correlation with financial inclusion, according to the amount measurement of the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and per square kilometer. Empirical evidence demonstrates that financial inclusion via Islamic banks is positively correlated with poverty alleviation (HDI). The research suggests that Islamic banks should enhance their current strategy and tools to attract more individuals and extend the range of their financial items and services aimed toward helping the underprivileged and helping them alleviate poverty. Policymakers must prioritize addressing the primary hurdles to financial inclusion in Islamic banking. Also, governments and regulators should be responsible for fostering an atmosphere that supports Islamic banks to conduct and administer effectively to help alleviate poverty. This research adds empirical analysis to the existing literature in diverse ways, for example, through its unique findings since it is the first to be undertaken in the OIC member countries.