The paper explores the factors influencing banking outreach. Using time series data on Indian states for 1973-2004, the analysis indicates a divergence across states in terms of the outreach of formal finance over time, ceteris paribus. The findings also uncover an important role of literacy and...

The paper makes a systematic attempt to ascertain the nexus between finance and growth at the sub-national level for an emerging economy. Using data on major states in India for 1973 to 2004, the analysis indicates significant regional divergences in financial outreach across states, as also in...