Do fintech readiness, digital trade, and mineral resources rents contribute to economic growth: Exploring the role of environmental policy stringency

The establishment of financial institutions advances economic growth through various channels. Fintech readiness is one of the pillars that led to alterations in the financial industry, enhancing economic development and changing the dynamics of the resource market. Besides, new trade dynamics may intervene in this relationship in light of recent trends. Thus, we explore the integrated role of fintech readiness, digital trade, natural resource rents, and environmental policy stringency on the economic growth of selected OECD countries from 1990 to 2022. After examining the preliminary analysis, the study employs the Method of Moment Quantile Regression (MMQR). The estimated results indicated that mineral resource rent deteriorates economic growth and affirms the resource curse dilemma. In contrast, digital trade, fintech readiness, and environmental policy stringency contribute to enhancing economic performance. The influence of these growth indicators substantially varied at lower and higher growth quantiles and offered relevant policy implications.