Does financial technology reduce inflation? Lessons learnt from Sumatra

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of financial technology (Fintech) on the inflation rate. The contribution reflects in the creation of a new index for Fintech, involving several indicators using principal component analysis. The data utilized belong to a panel dataset pertaining to the 10 provinces of the island of Sumatra, Indonesia, spanning from January 2020 to June 2023. The pooled mean group (PMG) estimation method is employed in order to test the relationship between Fintech and the inflation rate. The research findings of the study indicate that Fintech is capable of reducing inflation in the long run. Therefore, this research study implies the necessity to intensify the use of Fintech for the purpose of creating an efficient economic environment and promoting economic stability.