How Fintech Impacts Urban Economic Resilience: A Perspective on the Empowerment of Digital Inclusive Finance

Fintech is recognized as a pivotal driver of future developments in the financial sector. Investigating the impact of fintech on urban economic resilience is of significant theoretical and practical importance. This study explores how fintech influences urban economic resilience and its internal mechanisms, utilizing panel data from 280 prefecture-level cities in China over the period 2011–2022. The key findings are as follows: (1) The development of fintech significantly boosts urban economic resilience. (2) Fintech strengthens urban economic resilience by advancing the level of digital inclusive finance. (3) A favorable business environment and well-developed digital infrastructure positively moderate the effect of fintech on urban economic resilience. (4) The heterogeneity analysis shows that fintech’s impact on urban economic resilience is more pronounced in inland cities and those with a strong service-oriented industry presence. This study enriches the understanding of factors influencing urban economic resilience and offers valuable insights into the role of fintech in enhancing it.