Balancing Fintech, Fiscal Autonomy, and Resource Use: Institutional Pathways Toward Environmental Efficiency

Abstract

ABSTRACT The paper examines the relationship between financial technologies (FIN), institutional quality (GOV), fiscal decentralization, and natural resource management in influencing sustainable development and environmental efficiency among OECD economies between 1990 and 2022. The analysis is conducted using advanced panel diagnostic techniques and the Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MMQR) framework. The empirical results indicate that the positive impact of fiscal decentralization and effective systems of governance on the production of green products will be counted, whereas financial technologies and reliance on mineral resources will lead to adverse consequences for sustainability. These outcomes underscore the paradoxical nature of fintech, which, while enhancing financial accessibility, simultaneously reinforces unsustainable practices in the energy and resource sectors. The study emphasizes the need for OECD economies to harmonize their strategies by advancing green finance innovation, strengthening institutional frameworks, and reducing resource dependence. These economies should reorient fintech development toward sustainability goals through targeted regulation, energy‐efficient digital infrastructure, and alignment with low‐carbon transition strategies.