Growth evaluation of fintech connectedness with innovative thematic indices – An evidence through wavelet analysis

Purpose
This study evaluated the growth of Fintech to measure the contribution towards the sustainable development goal of the United Nation in terms of financial inclusion through exploring the connectedness of fintech with several thematic indices. The study navigates the co-movements in short and long window-time frames.

Design/methodology/approach
This study used wavelet coherence method to analyze linkages between two-time series by considering the stock market co-movements. Wavelet coherence is applied on the pairwise Fintech-Index with the MSCI benchmarks for investment portfolio purposes.

Findings
The global correlation among indices signifying that the benchmark of MSCI USA has a greater level of interactions with the nascent industries but is not highly correlated with other benchmark equity indices. The Global FinTech Index indicates the highest values among the thematic indices. The Artificial Intelligence & Big Data Index has revealed a lower level of association with the MSCI Latin American Index among the overall correlations.

Practical implications
First, borrowing and lending and mitigating the risk needs to be addressed. Second, financial regulations would deal with market failures and vulnerabilities. Third, people would be expected to access innovative financial services and would be treated fairly with adequate access to payments, credit, insurance, and savings products.

Originality
The study covers Artificial Intelligence & Big Data Index (IAIQ), Blockchain Index (ILEGR), Disruptive Technology Index (IDTEC), Global Fintech Index (IFINIX). A key contribution of this research is to analyze the growth of Fintech in terms of size, participants, user market growth, and the role of stakeholders and policymakers.