Sayed Nadeem Sadat, Imran Rafiq, Abdul Basit Durani

Volume 7 Issue 4 | Dec 2024

DOI: 10.31841/KJEMS.2024.171

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Abstract

This study examines the relationship between Financial Inclusion (FI), Economic Empowerment (EE), and Social Empowerment (SE) through the mediating role of Entrepreneurial Intention (EI) among Rana University's students in Kabul. Understanding the significance of entrepreneurship and financial inclusion in enhancing empowerment socially and economically, this research shed light on the factors above within a developing context. The data was collected using physical and Google survey questionnaires. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was also employed to analyze the measurement model's internal consistency and convergent and discriminant validity. The findings revealed that EI has a statistically positive impact on household EE and SE, supporting the idea that students with strong EI tend to have a higher level of empowerment in both aspects. It was found that FI influences EI, underscoring FI's crucial role in encouraging entrepreneurial mindsets. FI alone does not immediately translate into empowerment without the influence of EI, as evidenced by the lack of significant direct effects of FI on EE and SE. The study additionally uncovers that EI mediates the relationship between FI and both forms of empowerment. This implies that by encouraging EI, FI indirectly supports SE and EE. The significant indirect effects underscore the importance of promoting FI and entrepreneurship as auxiliary strategies for enhancing empowerment. On the policy forefront, Policymakers, educators, and financial institutions may create an environment that encourages financial access and entrepreneurial growth, ultimately resulting in increased economic and social empowerment.
Keywords: Financial inclusion, Entrepreneurial Intention, Economic and Social Empowerment, Mediation Analysis