Elgar Advanced Introductions are stimulating and thoughtful introductions to major fields in the social sciences, business and law, expertly written by the world’s leading scholars. Designed to be accessible yet rigorous, they offer concise and lucid surveys of the substantive and policy issues associated with discrete subject areas. Taking a detailed tour through the emerging economic field of financial inclusion, this timely book charts the subtle conceptual shifts that gave rise to the focus on inclusivity in development finance, and provides an overview of key concepts, issues, and empirical findings. Diving into the crucial interaction of financial inclusion with gender, further chapters present new conceptual frameworks for thinking about these interactions, as well as discussing the impacts of gendered financial exclusion on both economic and empowerment outcomes. Key Features:Comprehensive introduction to the theory and practice of financial inclusionAccessible style, with focus boxes detailing more advanced materialIn-depth analysis of the relationship between female empowerment and financial inclusionUp to date discussions of recent developments in FinTech, the impact of microfinance, and the new frontiers of financial inclusion researchDiscussing what is known about the economic impacts of financial inclusion and what is still to be discovered, this book is an ideal companion for students and researchers of development finance and economics. It aims to inspire current and future cohorts of researchers and policymakers, as well as practitioners with an interest in financial inclusion.