海角社区

Title: The Unintended Redistributive Effects of FinTech Development

Speaker: Professor Zhang Xun, School of Statistics, Beijing Normal University

Time: 14:30, May 15, 2025

Venue: Room 210

Abstract:
This study investigates the redistributive effects of regional FinTech development among firms using micro-level data. By constructing regional FinTech adoption indicators and combining them with time-varying geographic information of bank branches and large manufacturing firms, along with bank- and firm-level financial data, the research reveals that widespread adoption of regional FinTech significantly weakens the performance of local banks. Specifically, it constrains branch expansion, reduces relationship-based corporate financial services, exacerbates corporate credit constraints, and ultimately lowers the productivity of large manufacturing enterprises. These findings demonstrate that while regional FinTech development enhances financial efficiency, it simultaneously generates negative spillover effects on large firms, resulting in unintended redistributive consequences.

Speaker's Academic Profile:
Professor Zhang Xun is a distinguished Professor (Tier II) and doctoral advisor at the School of Statistics, Beijing Normal University, where he also serves as Associate Dean of the Research Institute and Director of the Social Sciences Division. Recognized as a national high-level talent, Professor Zhang specializes in digital economy, digital finance, regional economics, and economic statistical analysis.

With over 80 publications in leading academic journals such as Social Sciences in China, Economic Research Journal, Management World, Journal of Banking & Finance, Journal of Population Economics, and World Development, Professor Zhang has been named a top 1% ESI Highly Cited Researcher in Economics and Business, as well as a top 1% Highly Cited Scholar by CNKI. He has presided over key projects funded by the National Social Science Foundation and the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

Professor Zhang's outstanding contributions have earned him numerous prestigious awards, including the Ministry of Education's Outstanding Research Achievement Award, the Huo Yingdong Education Foundation Young Faculty Award, the Zhang Peigang Development Economics Young Scholar Award, the Hong Yinxing Economics Award (Youth), and the Ministry of Commerce's Research Achievement Award.