Nexus between financial inclusion and Islamic financing distribution: Evidence from Indonesian MSMEs

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between financial inclusion and the distribution of Islamic banking financing to Indonesia's MSME industry. Methodology – This study utilizes the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) approach covering the period between 2015 to 2020. Findings – The study's findings suggest that the use of all-inclusive financial variables, as represented by the number of ATMs, branch offices, and Third-Party Fund (TPF), has a significant effect on the distribution of financing in the short-term but not in the long term. Furthermore, macroeconomic as well as internal control variables, such as inflation and Non-Performing Financing, have been shown to have a significant influence. The impulse-response function analysis shows that the financing distribution responds positively to financial inclusion variables such as ATMs and branch offices. TPF, inflation, ROA, and exchange rate variables were found to have negative responses in the case of a shock. Implications – The findings of this study are expected to be used as a basis to develop government policies, particularly in supporting the post-COVID-19 national economic recovery through a comprehensive financial program that can broaden access to financing from Islamic banks for the general public, particularly MSME actors who have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Originality – This investigation utilizes three distinct indicators to assess the relationship between Islamic financing distribution in Islamic banking and financial inclusion for MSMEs. These include measures of financial inclusion, financial performance metrics of Islamic banking institutions, and macroeconomic variables.