Leveraging infrastructure and technological innovation for financial inclusion: pathways to achieving sustainable development goals in BRICS nations

This study examines the effect of infrastructure development (ID) and technological innovation (TI) on financial inclusion (FI) and its subsequent influence on achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) in the BRICS countries. Utilizing dynamic panel data models, including system generalized method of moments (GMM) estimators and Instrumental Variables (IV) methods such as two-stage least squares (2SLS), the analysis addresses endogeneity concerns to provide robust estimates. The results reveal that both ID and TI significantly enhance FI, with their interaction impact highlighting the complementary relationship between infrastructure and technological innovation in expanding financial access. The study further investigates the role of FI in driving key SDGs, indicating that greater FI contributes to poverty reduction, gender equality, and economic growth. The empirical evidence also underscores the importance of supportive policy frameworks, including regulatory environments (REG) and financial sector development (FSD), as enablers of FI. By integrating infrastructure, technology, and their interaction, this research makes a novel contribution to the financial inclusion literature and offers actionable insights for policymakers and financial stakeholders in emerging economies. The study advocates for infrastructure investments that complement digital finance strategies, stressing the need for collaboration between financial institutions, governments, and telecom providers to foster inclusive growth. Limitations of the study include a focus on emerging economies, suggesting future research could explore the role of emerging technologies such as blockchain and AI in financial inclusion and resilience. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025.