Digital Human Finance: Exploring Embeddedness, Inclusion and Social Realities

This timely book provides a comprehensive analysis of digital financial services across diverse socio-economic landscapes, moving beyond technology-focused perspectives to examine the complex social and cultural dimensions of financial innovation.

Chapters explore how digital financial tools, from mobile banking to AI-based FinTech innovations, function as both economic instruments and catalysts for sociocultural change. Through a human-centric perspective, the contributors challenge the prevalent techno-optimistic narratives surrounding the topic, highlighting that outcomes are shaped by existing social hierarchies, cultural norms, and power dynamics. Key topics discussed include: the high hopes and the risks that digital financial services introduce; sustainable finance; household financial dynamics; trust; and financial inclusion. The book further advocates for context-sensitive approaches that balance innovation with equity and cultural pluralism.

This book is a vital resource for students and academics in sociology, anthropology, finance, business, economics, development, and science and technology studies. It is also an insightful read for finance professionals, policymakers, and technology innovators.

Anette Broløs, Finthropology B.V., Odense, Denmark, Erin B. Taylor, Finthropology B.V., The Hague, the Netherlands, Jillet Sarah Sam, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, India and Shriram Venkatraman, Department of Business and Management, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark